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CHRISTIAN  LOVE: 


CHARITY  AN  ESSENTIAL  ELEMENT 


TRUE  CHRISTIAN  CHARACTER. 


BY  REV,   DANIEL  WISE. 


"  This  is  my  commandment,  That  ye  love  one 
another  as  I  have  loved  you." — Jes%is  Christ. 


:Nreto=Yorfe: 
PUBLISHED  BY  LANE  &  SCOTT, 

200   Mulberry-street. 
JOSEPH    LONGKING,    PRINTER. 

1850 


PREFACE. 


It  must  be  conceded  by  every  person  who  under- 
stands the  true  spirit  and  genius  of  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  that  its  victories  are 
to  be  won  and  its  empire  established  by  the  influ- 
ence of  Love.  It  must  also  be  admitted,  by  every 
candid  and  careful  observer  of  human  nature  and  of 
the  Christian  Church,  that  there  is  a  fearful  want  of 
love  among  the  professed  disciples  of  the  Savior. 
The  warm-hearted  attachment,  the  burning  desire  to 
make  men  happy,  the  self-sacrificing  labors  for  the 
good  of  man  which  so  strikingly  marked  the  life,  the 
actions,  and  the  spirit  of  the  Master,  are  attributes 
of  character  for  which  we  look  almost  in  vain,  as  we 
survey  the  militant  church.  I  would  not  be  under- 
stood to  say  that  they  are  entirely  invisible,  because 
there  are  some,  yea  many,  disciples  baptized  deeply 
with  the  unction  of  Christ ;  and  the  elements  of 
his  holy  character  exist  in  some  small  degree  in 
every  Christian  convert.  But  it  is  undeniably  true 
of  the  MASSES,  who  compose  our  churches,  that  they 
do  not  develope  either  in  their  lives  or  spirits,  the 


PRErACE. 


great  gospel  idea  of  Love:  they  do  not  force  the  con- 
viction on  a  miserable  w«  d,  that  the  church  is 
ruled  by  a  divine  affection-- by  a  holy  mutual  fond- 
ness which  exists  no  where  else.  And  it  is  not  say- 
ing too  much,  to  affirm  that  until  such  a  conviction 
is  forced  upon  the  world,  it  will  not  be  converted. 

With  these  views  I  have  been  led  to  the  composi- 
tion of  this  little  book.  Earnestly  hoping  that  it 
may  be  a  seed  of  spiritual  and  eternal  fruit,  it  is  cast 
forth,  seeking  a  soil  congenial  with  its  nature,  by 
one  of  the  unworthiest  laborers  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface.        .....         .         page  3. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  J^Tew   Commandment. 

A  Beautiful  moral  picture — Ttie  Now  Command- 
ment— Its  contrast  with  the  spirit  of  the  age — 
Loveliness  of  the  spirit  of  Jesus— Why  did  Christ 
call  it  a  mw  command  ? — The  Levitical  precept 
of  love  considered — The  new  command  a  perfect 
illustration  of  the  old  one  —Christian  Love  defined 
— Importance  of  studying  the  new  command. — p.  9. 

CHAPTER  IL 

Christian  Love  Explained. 

The  mother  and  her  children — The  principles  of 
Christian  Love — Difference  between  natural  and 
Christian  Love^— A  Dialogue  between  two  profess- 
sing  Christians — Christian  love  overlooks  faults — 
Christ's  example — James  and  John — Peter — Zebe- 
dee's  children — A  word  of  advice  to  the  unchari- 
table— The  uncharitable  condemn  themselves — 
The  Broken  Vase — Something  to  be  regretted. — p. 
23. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  in. 

Christian  Love  Explained. 

Christ's  love  was  a  lovo  of  action — The  wonders  of 
his  love — Christian  Love  is  practical — An  Incident 
in  a  love  feast— A  lamentable  fact— The  results 
of  Christian  lovo — Source  of  many  unsound  pro- 
fessions of  love — A  just  expectation — The  grave 
of  Lazarus — Scriptural  standard  of  love — A  serious 
question  answered— A  caution— St.  Paul  an  exam- 
ple of  Christian  Love— Anecdote— Prince  Alfred- 
Appeal  to  the  Selfish— p.  37. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Conquests  qf  Christian  Love. 

The  Child  and  the  Eagle— The  strength  of  Love- 
Christian  Love  emphatically  powerful — The  tro- 
phies of  Christian  Love — Christian  Love  destroys 
Envy— The  nature  of  Envy— Antagonism  of  Envy 
and  Love — King  Saul — Signs  of  Envv  among  pro- 
fessing Christians— The  case  of  Eugenius  consid- 
ered—Christian females  often  envious  -A  solemn 
appeal.— p.  56. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Conquests  of  Christian  Love, 

The  martyrdom  of  Stephen — Influence  of  love  over 
anger — Existence  of  acrimony  among  Christians — 
An  illustrative  dialogue — An  indisputable  fact — 
Dr.  Clarke's  criticism — Christian  Love  is  forbear- 
ing— Marshal  Turenne — A  word  of  exhortation- 
Love  is  unsuspicious — A  worldly  motto — The  sim- 
plicity of  love — Love  has  no  sympathy  for  sin — 
Christ's  example — Love  does  not  slander — Exceed- 
ing beauty  of  Christian  Love — A  sad  contrast — 
Effects  of  uncharitable  words — Richard  Watson — 
An  objection  considered — The  starved  beggar-wo- 
man.— ^p.  72. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

TTie  Fruits  of  Christian  Zove. 

The  Sailor's  Mother — Kindness  of  Love — The  Spirit 
of  Kindness — Natural  restraints. — The  Natural 
Heart  contrasted  with  Christian  Love — A  sorrow- 
ful confession — Poetical  Extract — An  unscriptural 
opinion — William  and  his  Teacher — Christian 
Love  is  forgiving — Imaginary  wrongs — Peter's 
question — Parmenio  and  Aspasio — The  operation 
of  LovQ  with  offenders. 


Vlll.  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

How  to  attain  Christian  Love. 

Conviction  Buppoaed — Cause  for  joy — The  Censer — 
Misery  of  dying  deluded — The  means  of  attaining 
Christian  Love— Particular  attention  to  this  duty 
necessary — Christian  Love  in  its  relation  to  Per- 
sonal Influence — The  joys  produced  by  Christian 
Love — The  Reward  of  Christian  Love — Christian 
Love  necessary  to  Salvation — Conclusion. — p.  114. 


CHRISTIAN  LOVE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  NEW  COMMANDMENT. 

There  is  not,  in  the  whole  history  of 
mankind,  a  picture  of  greater  moral  love- 
liness than  the  scene  of  Christ's  last  in- 
terview with  his  disciples.  The  inspired 
evangelist,  John,  has  sketched  it  with  a 
master's  hand ;  so  that  he  who  studies  it, 
with  a  Christian's  spirit,  will  find  his 
heart  melted,  and  his  eyes  moistened  with 
tears  of  affectionate  admiration. 

Let  us  examine  it  a  moment  The 
place  is  the  chamber  where  they  had 
celebrated    the    paschal  supper.      The 


I  10  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


time,  is  the  evening  preceding  the  day 
of  the  Master's  death.  He  has  just  un- 
folded to  his  distressed  disciples  the  fact 
of  his  speedy  departure  from  among  them. 
Judas,  the  betrayer,  has  left,  and  is  busy 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  dastardly  work. 
Jesus  beholds  himself  on  the  brink  of 
[  that  horrible  abyss  of  agony  and  death 
into  which  it  behoved  him  to  plunge  for 
the  salvation  of  a  lost  world.  A  cloud 
of  sadness  therefore  rests  upon  his  soul ; 
while  a  deeper  gloom  veils  the  spirits  of 
the  desponding  eleven.  Under  these 
appalling  circumstances  he  speaks  ;  and 
speaks,  even  then,  with  the  authority  of 
a  God.  "A  new  commandment,"  he 
says,  "  I  give  unto  you." 

And  what  was  this  new  command- 
ment ?  It  was  given  in  an  hour  when 
the  fiendish  malice  of  his  powerful  ene- 
mies was  about  to  triumph:  when  his 
betrayer  had  closed  the  impious  contract 
which  was  to  place  his  innocent  person 


THE    NEW    COMMANDMENT.  11 

in  the  power  of  murderers ;  when  the 
iron-hearted  soldier  was  unsheathing-  the 
sword  for  his  destruction ;  and  that  fierce 
hatred  which  had  hunted  him  with  per- 
secutions and  maledictions  all  over  Judea 
Avas  gathering  its  full  strength,  so  soon 
to  be  expended  in  the  clamorous  and 
fatally  triumphant  cry  of  "  Crucify  him ! 
Crucify  him !" 

In  such  an  hour  as  this  what  sort  of  a 
commandment  might  be  expected  from 
a  great  and  powerful  leader  to  his  faith- 
ful and  devoted  friends?  Was  it  not 
natural  foi-  Christ  to  remember,  that  the 
vast  masses  who  had  recently  sung 
Hosannahs  to  his  honor  and  offered  their 
wild  strength  to  place  him  on  David's 
throne,  could  easily  be  excited  to  take 
the  sword  in  his  defence  ?  Did  he,  then, 
command  his  faithful  eleven  to  raise  a 
banner  of  defiance  and  rally  the  multi- 
tudes to  battle  ?  Did  he  utter  the  word 
that  should  open  the  sluices  of  slaughter 


12  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

and  fill  Jerusalem  and  Judea  with  blood  ? 
He  might  have  done  it.  Had  he  raised 
the  Lion  of  Juda  on  Mount  Olivet,  and 
sent  his  eleven  friends  to  summon  the 
people  to  his  standard,  a  few  hours  would 
have  sufiiced  to  place  him  on  the  visible 
throne  of  David !  He  knew  this.  Did 
he  do  it?  O  no.  He  forgot  himself. 
His  new  command  contemplated  only  the 
happiness  of  his  friends,  and  left  him  to 
the  ferocity  of  his  enemies.    It  was  sim- 

piy. 

"  Love  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you !" 

What  a  beautiful  exhibition  of  divine 
love  was  this  new  commandment !  How 
it  stands  out  in  sublime  contrast  with  the 
spirit  of  his  age !  That,  was  emphatically 
an  age  of  selfishness  and  hate.  The 
whole  mass  of  mankind  was  filled  with 
all  unrighteousness,  maliciousness ;  full  of 
envy,  murder,  debate,  deceit,  malignity  ; 
without  natural  affection,  implacable,  un- 


THE    NEW    COMMANDMENT.  13 


merciful.*  To  this  awful  state  of  things 
the  Jew  was  scarcely  an  exception.  Sur- 
rounded by  such  universal  selfishness,  the 
blessed  Jesus  gave  his  new  command, 
"  Love  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you  ;" 
a  command  which  like  an  oasis  in  the 
desert  is  rendered  more  beautiful  by  the 
rugged  barrenness  of  the  surrounding 
scenery.    Blessed  Jesus ! 

"  King  of  glory,  king  of  peace, 
I  will  love  thee." 

Why  did  our  blessed  Lord  call  this  a 
neiv  commandment  ?  Love  for  man  had 
always  formed  a  part  of  the  divine  law. 
Moses  had  taught  it  and  the  Jews  -ecog- 
nized  it  as  a  branch  of  religious  duty. 
Why  then  did  Christ  call  it  a  new  com- 
mand ? 

The  answer  is  plain  from  the  words  of 
the  commandment  itself.    Love  one  ano- 

«  Eoraans  1 :  29,  30,  31. 


14  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


ther  as  I  have  loved  you.    It  was  not  new 

in  its  requirement,  but  in  its  measure. 
The  old  Levitical  precept  said  :  "  Thou 
shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself  f^  this 
says :  "  Thou  shalt  love  him  as  I  have 
loved  you ;"  which  is,  as  if  the  precious 
Savior  had  said :  "  The  regard  which  you 
feel  for  yourselves,  large  as  it  is,  is  too 
contracted  a  measure  for  that  holy  affec- 
tion which  as  my  disciples  I  desire  to  see 
prevailing  among  you ;  that  ancient  stan- 
dard, high  as  it  is,  beautiful  as  it  appears, 
and  far  superior  as  it  may  be  to  any  ex- 
hibition of  love  heretofore  made  among 
men,  is  neither  so  high,  so  beautiful,  nor 
so  superior  as  that,  by  which  I,  your 
Lord  and  Master,  would  have  you  model 
your  affection  for  each  other.  I  would 
have  you  love  as  I  love.  I  wish  you  to 
breathe  the  same  intensely  affectionate 
spirit  upon  each  other  as  I  have  breathed 
on  you." 

But,  why  did  not  the  blessed  Redeemer 


THE    NEW    COMMANDMENT.  15 


leave  the  measure  of  mutual  love  where 
it  was  left  by  the  Levitical  precept? 
Surely  that  was  a  large  measure  !  What 
could  man  do  more  than  to  love  another 
as  he  loved  himself? 

The  Levitical  precept,  high  and  glori- 
ous as  it  was  in  itself,  and  perfect  as  it 
would  have  been  for  a  race  of  righteous 
and  sinless  beings,  was  nevertheless  un- 
certain and  insufficient  in  the  case  of 
depraved  human  nature. 

Its  standard  was  uncertain.  Man  did 
not  love  himself  as  he  ought.  His  self- 
love  was  neither  pure  nor  intelligent. 
Blinded  by  clouds  of  stormy  passions,  he 
was  accustomed  to  rush  headlong  upon 
destruction.  Depraved  in  his  whole  na- 
ture, carnal  in  his  desires,  he  easily  mis- 
took his  own  true  interests  and  recklessly 
spoiled  both  soul  and  body  by  sin,  and 
even  when  under  gracious  influences,  did 
many  things  to  his  own  hurt.  If  he  did 
this  for  himself,  would  he  do  better  for 


16  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

Others  ?  Even  if  he  loved  them  as  he 
loved  himself;  that  love  would  be  insuf- 
ficient to  make  him  the  safe  and  effectual 
friend  of  his  fellow  creatures  ;  who,  like 
himself,  destined  for  immortality,  needed 
to  be  loved  with  an  affection  that  yearned 
over  their  spiritual  and  eternal  interests. 
It  may  be  asked,  do  not  these  views 
cast  a  shadow  on  the  wisdom  of  the  Eter- 
nal God,  who  pronounced  the  Levitical 
precept  ?  By  no  means.  For  that  pre- 
cept, as  before  remarked,  was  perfect 
in  itself  That  the  standard  it  established 
was  not  so,  was  no  fault  of  the  great  Law- 
giver. His  law  had  already  prescribed 
how  man  should  love  himself,  and  on  the 
presumption  that  these  prescriptions 
would  be  faithfully  followed,  it  further 
required  that  man  should  love  his  neigh- 
bor in  the  same  manner.  Had  man  done 
this,  the  precept  would  have  been  as  per- 
fect in  its  standard  as  it  was  in  itself  If  he 
failed  to  meet  this  expectation,  was  the 


THE    NEW    COMMANDMENT.  17 

wisdom  of  the  Law-giver  to  be  impeached? 

But  why  did  God  give  a  standard  so 
imperfect  ?  Clearly,  because  at  the  time 
he  could  give  no  other.  There  never 
had  been  a  perfect  model  of  human  love 
upon  earth,  whose  example  could  be 
made  a  pattern  for  the  race.  Moses, 
Abraham,  Enoch,  and  all  the  patriarchs, 
pious  and  noble  as  were  their  characters, 
were  not  perfect  models  of  that  holy, 
wide-spreading  affection,  which  the  be- 
nevolent Creator  would  see  in  the  bosom 
of  his  creatures.  And  had  they  been 
such,  it  would  have  been  unsafe  to  pre- 
sent them  as  models  ;  for  such  is  the 
moral  perversity  of  man,  that  he  would 
in  that  case  have  soon  elevated  them 
into  gods,  and  instead  of  copying  their 
benevolence,  paid  them  the  worship  of 
his  idolatrous  heart. 

But  what  was  lacking  at  the  era  of  the 
Levitical  precept,  existed  when  the  new 
law  of  love  was  pronounced.     Its  glori- 


18  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


ous  author,  as  a  perfect  man,  had  fur- 
nished a  safe  and  complete  model,  a  cer- 
tain, intelligible  standard  in  his  own 
spotless  life  of  love.  He  had  taught  both 
how  man  should  love  himself  and  how  he 
should  love  his  fellow :  that  he  should 
love  himself  in  subordination  to  his  duty 
to  glorify  God  in  all  things,  and  his 
neighbor  with  a  most  holy  and  self-deny- 
ing affection.  And  being  God,  as  well 
as  man,  no  idolatry  could  possibly  follow 
from  his  being  the  standard  for  human 
imitation. 

The  blessed  Savior  having  set  this  ex- 
ample, was  thereby  prepared,  not  to 
abrogate  but  to  perfect  the  Levitical  pre- 
cept— to  give  it  what,  from  necessity,  it 
lacked  before,  a  practical  model  by  which 
it  might  be  illustrated  and  understood. 
As  he  had  loved  his  disciples,  they  were 
to  love  one  another.  This  removed  all 
uncertainty — all  doubt — as  to  the  nature 
and  extent  of  Christian  love.     They  had 


THE    NEW    COMMANDMENT.  19 


seen,  tasted  and  enjoyed  his  unequalled 
affection;  an  affection  which  uniformly 
studied  to  promote  their  highest  and  best 
interests ;  which  shrunk  from  no  sacrifice, 
pain,  or  self-denial,  not  even  from  death 
itself.  A  love  that  made  him  forget 
himself  and  justified  him  in  saying: 
"Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this, 
that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his 
friends,"  and  which,  as  we  gaze  upon  its 
highest  act,  enacted  amidst  the  horrors 
of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  moves  the 
heart  to  exclaim : 

"  Lamb  of  God !  was  ever  pain, 
Was  ever  Love  like  Thine  " 

We  are  now  prepared  to  answer  that 
trembling  disciple,  who  inquires :  "  With 
what  degree  of  affection  must  I  love  the 
followers  of  Jesus  Christ  ?"  or  in  other 
words,  "  What  is  Christian  love  ?" 

The  answer  is  now  an  easy  one.  It  is 
such  a  clear,  intense,  uniform,'  practical 


20  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


Jove  for  the  bodies  and  souls  of  the 
Lord's  disciples  as  the  blessed  Jesus  him- 
self exhibited  towards  them  when  on 
earth ;  for  said  he,  "  A  new  commandment 
I  give  unto  you ;  as  I  have  loved  you,  that 
ye  love  one  another." 

Let  us  look  this  commandment  steadily 
in  the  face,  and  endeavor  to  understand 
its  details.  This  is  the  more  necessary 
because  the  possession  of  this  Christian- 
like love  for  the  friends  of  Jesus  is  made 
by  him  the  evidence  of  our  discipleship. 
"  By  this  shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are 
my  disciples ;  if  ye  have  love  one  to  ano- 
ther ;"  and  that  apostle,  who  was  the 
most  successful  in  copying  the  sweet 
spirit  of  the  Great  Teacher,  has  written, 
"  He  that  loveth  not,  knoweth  not  God, 
for  God  is  love." 

From  these  Scriptures  it  plainly  ap- 
pears that  if  we  love  not,  we  have  no 
Christianity,  and  no  claim  on  the  church 
or  world  for  their  confidence  in  our  reli- 


THE    NEW    COMMANDMENT.  21 


gious  professions.  Christ  has,  by  his 
command,  made  brotherly  love  a  binding 
duty ;  and  he  also  gives  the  church  and 
world  authority  to  judge  us  unfaithful 
and  unchristian  if  v/e  are  found  without 
it.  To  the  humble  believer,  therefore, 
this  is  among  the  most  solemn  questions 
that  can  come  before  him.  He  will  not 
turn  from  it.  He  will  search  into  it,  for 
his  soul  will  be  startled  to  be  reminded 
that  if  he  has  no  love  he  has  no  religion  ! 
or  if  he  have  hatred  and  malice  in  his 
heart  he  is  no  disciple  of  Jesus.  For 
John  has  written  :  "  If  a  man  say,  I  love 
God,  and  haterth  his  brother,  he  is  a  liar." 
Come  then,  O  Christian  reader,  and  lay 
your  heart  bare  before  God.  Search 
into  its  hidden  recesses  and  see  whether 
Christian  love  rules  it,  fills  it,  adorns  it, 
or  whether  it  is  polluted  by  bitterness, 
prejudices,  strifes,  and  envyings:  whe- 
ther it  breathes  benevolence  and  kindness 
towards  the  household  of  faith,  or  indif- 


22  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


ference,  coldness  and  hostility.  Forget 
not  that  your  eternal  hopes  depend  on 
the  decision  of  this  question,  since  you 
must  say  as  St.  Paul  wrote :  "  Though  I 
speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of 
angels  and  have  not  charity,  1  am  become 
as  sounding  brass,  or  a  tinkling  cymbal. 
And  though  I  have  the  gift  of  prophecy, 
and  understand  all  mysteries,  and  all 
knowledge :  and  though  I  have  all  faith 
so  that  I  could  remove  mountains,  and 
have  not  charity,  I  am  nothing." 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      23 


CHAPTER  II. 

CHRISTIAN  LOVE  EXPLAINED. 

Suppose  a  wise  and  judicious  mother, 
having  occasion  to  leave  home  some  af- 
ternoon, requests  her  children  to  remain 
in  the  nursery,  with  a  general  charge  to 
bo  loving  to  each  other,  and  an  especial 
request  to  the  elder  children  to  take  care 
of  the  babe.  After  she  is  gone,  the  chil- 
dren cluster  together  and  say,  "  We  will 
be  good  and  kind  to-day,  because  it  will 
be  so  pleasing  to  mother." 

"Yes,"  replies  one,  "Mother  always 
feels  very  much  hurt  if  we  do  not  agree  ; 
and  it  would  be  very  wicked  to  hurt  her 
feelings,  she  is  so  good  to  us  all." 

"  But  what  shall  we  do  with  the  baby  ? 


24  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


He  will  hinder  us  from  play  if  he  should 
wake  up  ?"  asks  another. 

"  O,"  replies  a  third,  "  we  will  try  and 
keep  him  quiet.  You  know  that  mother 
would  be  very  much  grieved  if  we  should 
neglect  him.  She  loves  him  very  ten- 
derly because,  as  she  says,  he  is  so  young 
and  helpless.  We  will  take  care  of  the 
baby  for  mother's  sake  ;  and  if  we  do  not 
have  so  much  play,  we  shall  please  her, 
and  that  will  be  better." 

Does  the  reader  perceive  the  applica- 
tion of  this  illustration  ?  Simple  as  it  is, 
it  reveals  the  principles  of  genuine  Chris- 
tian love.  For,  as  the  children  agreed  to 
be  kind  to  each  other  for  their  mother's 
sake,  and  to  take  an  affectionate  care  of 
the  babe  because  the  mother  loved  it, 
so  an  individual  Christian  loves  all  other 
Christians,  because  Christ  loves  them, 
and  because  he  wishes  each  one  of  his 
followers  to  love  all  the  rest. 

These   are    peculiarities    which    dis- 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      25 

tinguish  Christian  love  from  ordinary 
natural  affection.  The  latter  is  excited 
and  graduated  by  purely  selfish  conside- 
rations, the  former,  by  a  pre-existing  love 
for  the  Redeemer  of  mankind ;  the  latter 
exists  only  as  the  beloved  one  presents 
personal  attractions,  pleasing  attributes 
of  mental  character,  or  promotes  in  some 
v/ay  the  pleasure  and  comfort  of  the  at- 
tached parties ;  while  the  former  exists 
without  respect  to  any  quality  in  its  ob- 
ject except  Christian  discipleship.  Nat- 
ural affection  proceeds  from  the  percep- 
tion and  enjoyment  of  estimable  and  de- 
sirable qualities  in  its  object.  Christian 
love  is  the  offspring  of  the  love  of  Jesus. 
If  you  ask  a  true  Christian  why  he  loves 
the  church  of  God,  he  will  reply  with 
holy  St.  Paul,  "  The  love  of  Christ  con- 
straineth  me." 

And  yet  how  common  are  such  cases 
as  the  following  among  the  professed 
followers  of  the  Savior !    Two  members 


26  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

of  a  church  meet.  After  the  customary 
salutations  are  over,  the  name  of  some 
other  member  of  the  church  is  introduced 
somewhat  in  the  form  of  the  succeeding 
dialogue : 

"  How  do  you  like  Mrs.  Henry,  our 
new  neighbor,  who  has  lately  joined  our 
church  by  letter  ?" 

"  O,  I  like  her  tolerably  well.  I  have 
not  formed  much  acquaintance  with  her 
yet,  however." 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  feel  any  particular 
drawing  towards  her.  My  impressions 
thus  far  are  not  favorable." 

"  Why,  don't  you  think  she  is  a  Chris- 
tian ?" 

"  Yes.  I  don't  know  but  she  may  be 
a  Christian ;  but  she  is  rather  coarse  in 
her  manners,  and  withal  somewhat  con- 
sequential in  her  airs.  1  can't  say  that  I 
am  pleased  with  her." 

Now,  what  shall  we  say  of  such  a  con- 
versation as  this?    True,  it  is  imagi- 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      27 


nary  ;  and  yet  it  may  find  its  reality  in 
every  Christian  church  in  the  land.  Can 
we  say  less  than  that  the  parties,  holding 
it,  manifest  a  sad  want  of  genuine  Chris- 
tian love  ?  They  admit  that  their  sister 
may  be  a  Christian  ;  and  yet  one  of  them 
directly  avows  not  merely  a  want  of 
love  but  a  positive  dislike !  Surely  this 
is  not  loving  one  another  as  Christ  loved 
us ! 

If  we  take  a  close  view  of  the  love  of 
Christ  to  his  disciples,  we  shall  learn 
that  those  faults  which  do  not  extinguish 
the  claim  of  a  person  to  discipleship, 
ought  to  be  no  barrier  to  the  exercise 
of  Christian  love.  So  long  as  we  can 
discern  the  image  of  Christ  in  a  brother 
or  sister,  however  dim  that  image  may 
be,  however  it  may  be  surrounded  by  in- 
firmities of  mind  or  manners,  we  must 
love  him.  Is  Christ  in  him  ?  The  ques- 
tion is  settled.  I  will  love  him,  not  for 
his  failings,  over  which  he  wails  with  a 


28  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


plaintiveness  that  melts  his  Savior's 
heart,  but,  because  he  is  Christ's. 

Doubtless  there  are  many,  who  will 
dissent  from  this  opinion  and  plead  the 
impossibility  of  the  thing  required.  "  It 
is  impossible,"  they  say, "  to  love  some 
Christians.  Where  there  is  no  conge- 
niality of  taste,  sentiment,  or  habits,  there 
can  be  no  affection."  To  this  we  reply  : 
true,  if  a  merely  natural  affection  be 
meant ;  but  we  are  speaking  of  a  gra- 
cious Christian  love ;  and  the  objection 
can  have  no  weight  where  the  parties  are 
real  Christians ;  for,  however  diverse  they 
may  be  in  every  other  thing,  they  must 
as  Christians  possess  a  congeniality  of 
feeling  and  affection  for  their  common 
Master,  and  this  is  the  root  of  genuine 
Christian  love. 

The  example  of  the  Savior  will  speed- 
ily settle  this  question.  Did  he  permit 
the  faults  of  his  disciples  to  destroy  his 
love  ?     Was    his  love  founded  on  the 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      29 


estimable  qualities  of  the  twelve  rude 
fishermen  of  Galilee  ?  or,  on  the  broader 
basis  of  their  value  to  his  Father  as  im- 
mortal beings  whom  he  loved  and  desired 
to  save  ?  Doubtless  the  latter,  for  many 
were  the  failings  in  the  characters  of  the 
twelve,  and  often  did  they,  by  an  ex- 
hibition of  those  failings,  grieve  the 
Savior's  heart  without  destroying  his 
love.  "  Wilt  thou  that  we  command  fire 
to  come  down  from  heaven  and  consume 
them  ?"  was  the  angry  and  revengeful 
request  of  James  and  John,  when  the  Sa- 
maritan villagers  rejected  him.  Did  he 
for  this  unlovely  exhibition  of  frailty  dis- 
card them  from  his  heart  ?  No !  he 
gently  reproved  them  for  their  error  and 
loved  them  still.  And  one  day,  Peter,  in 
his  worldly  pride,  dared  to  utter  the  bold 
language  of  rebuke  to  his  Master's  face, 
because  he  had  predicted  his  coming 
sufferings  !  This  was  certainly  a  great 
offence,  but  did  Christ  dismiss  him  from 


30  CHRISTIAN     LOVE. 


the  charities  of  his  heart?  We  know 
better.  Or  when  a  burst  of  indignation 
broke  from  the  lips  of  the  angry  ten  at 
the  proud  request  of  Zebedee's  wife  for 
her  ambitious  children,  did  he  bid  them 
depart  from  his  side  because  all  their 
spirits  were,  in  that  instance,  so  uncon- 
genial with  his  own !  O  no.  He  only 
reproved  and  loved  them  still ;  for  be- 
neath those  tumultuous  stirrings  of  their 
partly  subdued  hearts,  he  discerned  a  love 
for  himself,  weak,  but  responsive  and 
kindred  to  that  which  glowed  in  his  own 
bosom  for  them. 

Go,  then,  thou  uncharitable  man,  thou 
fault-finding,  prejudiced  disciple,  if 
indeed  thou  art  a  disciple,  and  sit  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus !  See  him  as  in  the 
above  instances,  constantly  overlooking 
the  frailties  and  defects  of  his  followers, 
loving  them  faithfully  and  perseveringly 
in  spite  of  their  unloveliness,  their  un- 
belief, ignorance,  slowness  to  learn,  and 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      31 


selfishness  of  feeling;  and  learn  from 
him  your  own  duty.  Hear  him  saying- 
to  your  heart,  "  Love  one  another  as  I 
have  loved  you  ;"  and  then  renounce  your 
prejudices,  and  pray  for  enough  of  the 
love  of  Jesus  to  enable  you  to  love  all, 
who  give  any  satisfactory  evidence  of 
being  Christians. 

Those  persons  who  demand  a  faultless 
character,  a  perfect,  or  at  least,  a  partial 
congeniality  of  feeling  and  habits  as  the 
conditions  on  which  they  grant  their 
tardy  love,  should  remember  that  by  this 
very  demand  they  exile  themselves  from 
the  domain  of  Christian  love.  Unless, 
indeed,  they  claim  an  entire  freedom 
from  frailty,  and  consider  their  habits 
and  feelings  the  standard  of  all  beauty 
and  propriety.  To  this  latter  presump- 
tion, I  presume,  however,  no  persons  who 
make  the  least  pretension  to  either  com- 
mon sense  or  Christianity,  have  yet  ar- 
rived.   All  such,  will  admit  their  own 


32  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


defects ;  and  it  is  lamentably  true  that, 
generally,  those  who  are  the  most  ready 
to  discover  the  failings  of  others,  are 
themselves  full  of  the  most  glaring  faults, 
and  the  possessors  of  a  most  unamiable 
spirit.  Now,  if  such  persons  are  treated 
according  to  'their  own  rule,  they  will  be 
utterly  excluded  from  all  Christian  affec- 
tion. Before  they  plead  their  anti-Chris- 
tian argument  again,  therefore,  they 
would  do  well  to  learn  a  lesson  from  tlie 
poet  who  has  said  : 

"  Go  to  your  bosom, 
Knock  there  ;  and  ask  your  heart,  what  it  doth  know 
That's  like  thy  brother's  fault ;  if  it  confess 
A  natural  guiltiness,  such  as  his  is, 
Let  it  not  sound  a  thought  upon  your  tongue 
Against  thy  brother's  name." 

Let  us  step  into  yonder  dwelling. 
Here  is  a  lady  of  sorrowful  aspect,  seated 
at  a  table  with  a  little  flower  vase  in  her 
hands.  See  how  carefully  she  touches 
it!     With  what   peculiar  affection   she 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      33 

surveys  it.  There  is  a  big  tear-drop 
gathering  in  her  eye  as  she  fondly  sur- 
veys its  ornaments,  and  she  is  actually 
imprinting  a  kiss  on  that  senseless  piece 
of  porcelain ! 

Can  you  divine  the  meaning  of  such 
devotion  to  that  vase  ?  It  is  not  valuable, 
for,  though  it  is  beautifully  shaped,  it  is 
cracked  and  broken.  Its  value  as  a  vase 
is  almost  destroyed.  Why  then  does 
she  seem  to  prize  it  so  dearly  ? 

That  woman  is  a  bereaved  mother. 
Tliat  cracked  vase  belonged  to  her  de- 
parted daughter.  Her  child  had  kept 
flowers  in  it,  all  through  her  long  and 
painful  travel  to  a  consumptive's  grave. 
And  when  she  died,  she  had  said :  "  Mo- 
ther, keep  this  vase/or  my  sake." 

Here  is  the  secret  of  her  devotion  to  a 
comparatively  worthless  vase.  It  was 
her  child's  vase.  She  loved  her  child, 
and  now  she  treasures  up  this  little  relic 
for  her  sake. 


34  CHRISTIAN   liOVE. 

Need  I  make  an  application  of  this 
figure  ?  Has  not  the  reader  already  ap- 
plied it  himself?  Does  he  not  here 
see  how  it  is  possible  to  love  even  an 
unamiable  Christian?  Though  exter- 
nally rude  and  unattractive  as  the  broken 
vase,  the  eye  of  love  will  detect  a  Savior's 
image  shining  beneath.  Once  discerned 
to  be  precious  in  the  sight  of  Christ,  even 
such  a  Christian  will  be  held  dear  and 
precious  by  all  who  love  Christ.  And 
this  not  for  his  own  personal  qualities, 
but  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  just  as  the 
mother  prized  the  vase  for  the  daughter's 
sake.  Because  Christ  loves  him  and 
wishes  him  to  be  loved  by  all  his  friends ; 
all  true  Christians  will  take  him  to  their 
bosoms  and  give  him  their  smiles  and 
spiritual  regards. 

How  deeply  to  be  regretted  is  the  fact 
that  the  visible  church  pays  so  little  at- 
tention to  the  teachings  of  gospel  truth 
on  the   subject  of  love.     Christ  said  of 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      35 

his  church,  "  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 
branches."  What  a  beautiful  idea  of 
unity  and  love  !  Every  branch  proceed- 
ing from  the  same  rich  root,  and  bearing- 
delicious  fruit  in  harmonywith  all  the  rest. 
"  I  planted  thee  a  noble  vine,  wholly  of 
a  right  seed  ;  how  then  art  thou  turned 
into  the  degenerate  plant  of  a  strange 
vine  unto  me  ?"  Such  is  God's  com- 
plaint of  his  church.  Is  it  not  a  justifia- 
ble one?  Are  not  the  branches  grown 
fruitless  and  wasting  their  strength 
in  silly  contentions  ?  One  complains 
that  the  other  is  too  high  or  too  low,  that 
another  is  of  the  wrong  shape ;  a  third 
runs  in  the  wrong  direction,  while  a 
fourth  is  too  large  ;  a  fifth  too  knotty,  and 
a  sixth  is  even  too  fruitful  to  please  his 
different  companions.  O  shameful  dif- 
ferences! but  too  faithfully  exemplified 
in  the  church  of  God.  When  will  each 
branch  be  faithful  to  its  glorious  root  and 
its    fellows.'      When    will    Christians 


36  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

breathe  the  spirit  of  him  who  loved  us 
while  we  were  yet  enemies  to  God,  and 
spared  not  his  life  for  our  sakes  ?  Never 
until  they  seek  the  baptism  of  the  spirit 
of  love,  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  of  Christ. 
We  have  now  shown  that  Christian 
love  is  love  for  the  disciples  of  Christ, 
because  Christ  loves  them ;  and  because 
he  ivishes  us  to  love  them :  and  that  it 
does  not  depend  so  much  on  the  faith- 
lessness of  a  Christian's  character,  as  on 
the  degree  of  Christ's  image  exhibited  in 
his  spirit  and  the  intensity  of  the  love  of 
Christ  in  our  own  hearts  ;  we  shall  pro- 
ceed to  show  further  that  it  is  a  practical 
and  self-denying  affection. 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      37 


CHAPTER  III. 

CHRISTIAN  LOVE   EXPLAINED       * 

"Believe  me  for  the  work's  sake," 
was  the  significant  reply  of  Christ  to 
Philip,  when  his  unbelieving  heart  led 
him  to  say  ;  "  Shew  us  the  Father."  It 
was  by  what  he  did  and  not  by  what  he 
said,  that  the  adorable  Savior  declared 
his  love  for  his  chosen  ones.  There  is  a 
wonderful  barrenness  of  verbal  profession 
of  affection  in  the  discourses  of  Jesus, 
Avhile  his  life  was  an  unbroken  series  of 
affectionate  actions.  And  when  the 
Redeemer  did  make  the  occasional  de- 
clarations of  love  that  fell  from  his  lips, 
they  almost  invariably  called  attention  to 
his  doings.    How  touching  and  beautiful 


38  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

are  these  heavenly  passages!  "I  am 
the  good  shepherd:  the  good  shepherd 
GivETH  HIS  LIFE  for  the  shoep.  As  the 
Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I  loved 
you.  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than 
this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for 

HIS    FRIENDS." 

;  Thus  did  the  Savior  show  that  his  love 
was  eminently  and  peculiarly  practical ; 
it  was  costly  love ;  a  love  of  many  sacri- 
fices. His  whole  life  was  love,  all  love. 
What  was  his  mysterious  incarnation, 
but  a  most  stupendous  act  of  love  ?  It 
was  Omnipotent  Power  stooping  from  its 
infinite  height  of  glory  to  a  union  with 
the  nature  of  its  contemptible  and  re- 
bellious creature  !  What  was  his  work 
of  teaching  on  the  mountain  slope,  in  the 
humble  village  synagogue,  or  the  more 
splendid  temple  in  Jerusalem  ?  It  was 
God  making  God  known;  it  wis  love 
veiling  its  splendor,  lest  its  dazzling 
light  should  blind  the  eyes  of  its  pupils  ; 


CHRISTTAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      39 

it  was  love  such  as  angels  never  con- 
ceived, nor  man  ever  imagined.  What 
was  Christ  healing  the  sick,  giving  sight 
to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  and  life 
to  the  dead  ?  It  was  love  working  love's 
miracles !  What  Avas  Christ  persecuted, 
smitten,  enduring  mockery  and  scourging 
in  Pilate's  hall ;  sweating  blood  in  Geth- 
semane,  and  suffering  the  fearful  agonies 
of  death  on  the  cross  ?  It  was  love's 
most  infinite  display.  It  was  God  in 
Christ  stooping  from  the  boundaries  of 
his  attributes  to  reach  after  his  lost  and 
wandering  creatures.  It  was  heaven 
loving  earth  with  a  wonderful,  tearful, 
self-denying  love. 

Having  loved  his  disciples  with  such 
a  love  as  this,  Jesus  gathered  them 
around  him  and  bade  them  love  one  an- 
other as  he  had  loved  them !  Did  he 
mean  that  they  were  to  do  the  same 
things  as  he  had  done  ?  He  could  not, 
for  they  lacked  the  power.    The  fountain 


40  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


of  his  love  was  infinile  ;  theirs  was  only 
Jimte.  What  then  did  he  mean  ?  Why, 
only  that  they  should  make  the  same  use 
of  their^mfe  love  as  he  had  of  his  infinite 
love.  In  a  word,  as  he  had  devoted 
HIMSELF  to  them  and  to  their  happiness, 
so  they  were  to  devote  themselves  to 
one  another:  that  each  disciple  should 
possess  a  holy,  practical,  self-denying  af- 
fection for  the  rest,  which,  if  circum- 
stances should  demand,  would  sacrifice 
even  life  itself  for  their  benefit. 

An  excellent  brother  once  rose  in  a 
Love  Feast,  and  said  :  "  I  feel  no  unkind 
feeling  towards  any  human  being."  With 
this  remark,  he  sat  down.  He  meant  to 
give  expression  to  the  love  of  a  Christian 
heart.  But  did  he  do  so?  I  think  not. 
A  heathen  might  say  as  much  and  be  a 
heathen  still.  His  profession  was  too 
negative  altogether.  It  merely  declared 
the  absence  of  hate  and  malice.  This 
was  well.     Christian  love  required  it. 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      41 


"  for  love  worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbor." 
But  it  also  required  more.  It  asked  posi- 
tive affection.  Not  only  the  absence  of 
wrong  feelings  and  wrong  actions,  but 
the  presence  of  kind,  affectionate  feel- 
ings, and  of  all  necessary  benevolent 
action. 

Yet  how  many,  who  bear  the  Christian 
name,  rest  perfectly  satisfied  with  that 
brother's  standard  of  love.  While  they 
abstain  from  all  hostile  emotion  and  ac- 
tion, they  think  themselves  possessed  of 
the  "  love  of  the  brethren ;"  yet  they  are 
strangers  to  that  real  regard  and  that 
affectionate  readiness  to  do,  which  we 
think  essential  to  a  Scriptural  Christian 
love. 

If  the  example  of  Christ  was  faithfully 
followed,  we  should  see  a  wonderful 
change  in  the  spirit  and  practice  of 
Christians.  The  sick  would  be  faithfully 
visited,  comforted,  and  watched;  the 
poor  members  of  Christ's  body  would  be 


42  CHRISTIAN     LOVE. 


fed  and  clothed ;  the  desponding  and 
doubting  would  be  comforted ;  the  be- 
reaved, the  tempted,  the  tried,  would 
meet  with  ready  sympathy  ;  there  would 
be  a  general  reciprocity  of  kind  offices, 
and  mutual  confidence  would  exist  in  the 
church ;  the  world  would  use  the  lan- 
guage of  Turtullian,  and  say  of  Christ's 
disciples,  "  See  how  they  love  one  an- 
other ;  and  are  ready  to  lay  down  their 
lives  for  each  other." 

There  is  something  so  divine,  so  hea- 
venly, in  this  idea  of  Christian  love  in 
exercise,  that  it  charms  the  imagination 
of  the  beholder.  As  he  contemplates 
society  acting  under  its  blessed  influence, 
he  stands  as  if  bound  to  the  glorious  vi- 
sion by  some  magic  spell.  He  is  like  an 
enraptured  artist,  studying  the  life-like 
pictures  of  some  old  master  in  his  art ; 
whose  soul  glows  with  unspeakable  en- 
thusiasm as  the  beautiful  creations  of  the 
painter  disclose   their  wonders    to    his 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPIiAINED.      43 


eyes.  Under  such  impressions  the  pro- 
fessor of  religion  often  utters  the  strong- 
est expressions  of  love.  His  tongue  is 
eloquent,  his  eyes  sparkle,  his  thoughts 
breathe,  his  words  burn.  So  ardent  is 
he,  that  one  is  ready  to  infer  his  readiness 
to  do,  to  suffer,  to  give,  or  even  to  die  for 
his  brethren  in  Christ  Jesus.  Believing 
this,  the  listener  inspires  the  flame  and 
looks  with  expectation  at  the  subsequent 
conduct  of  the  speaker,  to  see  the  won- 
ders his  love  will  accomplish  for  the 
church. 

Such  an  expectation  is  both  natural 
and  scriptural.  The  tear-drops,  those  si- 
lent but  expressive  signs  of  feeling,  that 
bedewed  the  cheeks  of  Jesus  at  the  grave 
of  Lazarus,  first  led  the  Jews  to  exclaim, 
"  Behold  how  he  loved  him ;"  but  when 
they  remembered  that  Christ  had  not  done 
what  he  had  obviously  the  power  to  do, 
they  queried  and  said :  "  Could  not  this 
man,  which  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind, 


44  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


have  caused  that  even  this  man  should 
not  have  died  ?"  But  these  queries  were 
silenced,  when  the  tears  were  followed 
by  that  potent  word  which  forced  the  be- 
loved Lazarus  from  the  powerful  embrace 
of  Death !  And  men  always  judge  of 
love  by  its  fruit.  Action  is  the  body  of 
Love,  profession  is  but  its  breath.  As 
men  can  best  see  th^  physical,  the  out- 
ward form,  they  naturally  look,  when  love 
has  uttered  its  voice,  to  see  if  that  voice 
be  succeeded  by  corresponding  actions. 
If  it  is  not,  they  must  and  will  doubt  its 
sincerity. 

Nor  is  this  expectation  less  scriptural 
than  natural.  Let  the  disciple  of  Christ 
ponder  well  the  language  of  the  Apostle 
John :  "  My  little  children,  let  us  not  love 
in  word,  neither  in  tongue,  but  in  deed? 
and  in  truth."  And  again  he  says; 
"  Hereby  perceive  we  the  love  of  God, 
because  he  laid  down  his  life  for  us  :  and 

WE    OUGHT    TO     LAY  DOWN    OUR     LIVES 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      45 

FOR  THE  brethren;"  i.  €.,  WG  oughtto 
be  ready,  should  the  necessities  of  the 
church  demand  it,  to  give  up  our  lives,  as 
the  martyrs  did,  for  its  sake.  And  further 
he  adds  :  "  Whoso  hath  this  world's  good, 
and  seeth  his  brother  have  need,  and  shut- 
teth  up  his  bowels  of  compassion  from 
him,  how  dvvelleth  the  love  of  God  in 
him  ?"  James  speaks  to  the  same  pur- 
port :  "  If  a  brother  or  sister  be  naked, 
and  destitute  of  daily  food,  and  one  of 
you  say  unto  them,  '  Depart  in  peace,  be 
ye  warmed  and  filled ;'  notwithstanding 
ye  give  them  not  those  things  which  are 
needful  for  the  body,  what  doth  it  profit  ?" 
These  tests  are  certainly  sufficient  to 
prove,  that  it  is  perfectly  Scriptural  to 
judge  of  Christian  love  by  its  actions. 

Alas  !  alas  !  If  this  be  the  rule,  what 
will  become  of  many  who  are  eloquent 
and  loud  in  their  professions  of  love  to 
the  children  of  God  ;  but  who  are  obvi- 
ously governed  by  supreme  selfishness  ? 


46  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 

;  What  shall  we  say  of  thousands  in 
Christ's  visible  church,  whose  entire  out- 
ward demonstration  of  love,  consists  in 
the  grudged  donation  of  a  few  dollars 
per  annum,  to  sustain  the  institutions  of 
the  church  ?  Who  never  visit  their 
brethren  and  sisters,  when  in  poverty, 
sickness,  or  in  affliction  ?  Who  take  no 
care,  and  feel  no  concern  for  the  spiritual 
distresses  and  trials  of  their  fellow-Chris- 
tians ?  Whose  hands  are  shut,  and  whose 
purses  are  hermetically  sealed  against  the 
beseechings  of  benevolence  ?  Who  sit 
unmoved  when  the  missionary,  the  Bible 
distributer,  the  vSabbath  School  Teacher, 
stand  up  before  them,  and  with  tears  so- 
licit help  to  enable  them  to  go  on  with 
their  work  and  labor  of  love?  Who 
shrink  from  the  cause  of  Christ,  when  it 
is  reproached  ?  Who,  in  one  word,  have 
never  sacrificed  onepenny  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  brotherhood  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 
What,  I  repeat,  shall  we  say  of  such  ? — 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      47 

Are  they  Christians  ?  Do  they  love  the 
church  as  Christ  loved  them  ?  Can  it  be 
possible  that  they  possess  the  spirit  of  him 
whose  leading  characteristic  was  a  self- 
denying,  practical  love ;  who  went  about 
doing  good?  Painfully  as  the  answer 
strikes  the  heart,  and  though  it  sounds 
the  everlasting  death-knell  of  many  who 
call  themselves  Christ's ;  truth  compels 
us  to  reply,  that  such  persons  are  not 
Bible  Christians  ? 

Let  not  the  reader,  who  feels  himself 
cut  off  from  his  claims  to  discipleship, 
by  these  remarks,  turn  away  disdainfully 
from  the  further  consideration  of  the  sub- 
ject !  Dare  not  take  so  rash  a  step,  dear 
friend !  If  your  foundation  be  not  a 
scriptural  one,  you  should  desire  to  know 
it,  above  all  things,  and  that  as  soon  as 
possible.  There  is  no  one  thought  more 
unspeakably  dreadful,  than  that  of  a  man 
dreaming  of  heaven,  while  he  is  actually 
in  the  way  to  hell.     Can  you  endure  the 


48  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

idea  of  dying  with  a  blind  expectation  of 
a  welcome  from  the  lips  of  Christ,  and 
when  you  stand  in  his  awful  presence,  be 
greeted  with  a  curse  ?  There  is  danger 
of  this.  Christ  warns  you  :  "  Many  will 
say  to  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  have 
we  not  prophesied  in  thy  name,  and  in  thy 
name  done  many  wonderful  works.  And 
then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I  never 
knew  you  :  depart  from  me,  ye  that  work 
iniquity." 

With  a  prediction  so  plain  and  so  ter- 
rible before  your  eyes,  should  you  not 
review  your  religious  experience,  and 
bring  yourself  resolutely  to  the  tests 
of  discipleship  established  in  the  gospel  ? 
In  addition  to  the  example  of  Christ,  and 
the  teachings  of  the  Apostles,  permit  me 
to  present  you  Avith  the  practical  illustra- 
tions of  love  afforded  by  the  lives  of  the 
Apostles,  and  other  holy  men. 

"I  have  great  heaviness,  and  continual 
sorrow  in  my  heart ;  for  I  could  wish  that 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE     EXPLAINED.      49 


myself  were  accursed  from  Christ,  for  my 
brethren,  my  kinsmen  according  to  the 
flesh."  Such  was  the  profession  of  love 
for  his  brethren,  made  by  the  Apostle ;  a 
profession  of  an  attachment  sufficiently 
strong  to  make  the  largest  of  all  sacrifi- 
ces for  their  benefit.  How  did  Paul  sup- 
port this  apparently  high-sounding  decla- 
ration ? 

He  supported  it  to  the  full  extent  of  his 
ability  to  do  and  suffer.  Did  the  weak 
consciences  of  his  brethren  lead  them  to 
indulge  a  foolish  grievance,  if  Paul  or  his 
stronger  converts  ate  meat  which  had  been 
offered  in  sacrifice  to  idols  ?  Paul's  love 
regarded  the  salvation  of  his  brethren  so 
strongly,  that  he  exclaims,  "  If  meat  make 
my  brother  to  offend,  I  will  eat  no  flesh 
while  the  world  standeth."  Were  his 
brethren  weak  and  troubled  ?  His  sym- 
pathy was  so  obvious,  that  he  could  chal- 
lenge all  with  the  question :  "  Who  is 
weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ?     Who  is  of- 


50  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

fended,  and  I  burn  not  ?"  Did  the  pros- 
perity of  the  church  demand  personal 
sufferings  and  severe  labors  at  his  hands? 
He  welcomed  those  sufferings — he  en- 
dured those  labors.  He  could  say,  even 
when  compared  with  others,  "  I  am  in 
labors  more  abundant,  in  stripes  above 
measure,  in  prisons  more  frequent,  in 
deaths  ofl.  Of  the  Jews,  five  times  re- 
ceived I  forty  stripes,  save  one.  Thrice 
was  I  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned, 
thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a 
day  I  have  been  in  the  deep,  in  journey- 
ings  often,  in  perils  of  waters,  in  perils 
of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  own  coun- 
trymen, in  perils  by  the  heathen,  in  perils 
in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in 
perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among  false 
brethren  ;  in  weariness  and  painfulness, 
in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst, 
in  fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness." 
These  were  the  actions  of  love  in  the 
life  of  Paul ;  and  when,  in  addition  to  all 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.       51 


this  almost  unequalled  evidence,  the  well- 
being  of  the  church  of  Christ  demanded 
his  journey  to  Rome,  and  his  consequent 
martyrdom  for  the  truth,  he  was  not  dis- 
mayed. With  the  merciless  lions  of  the 
more  merciless  Nero  gnashing  their  teeth 
in  his  face ;  with  the  reeking  sword  gleam- 
ing in  his  eyes,  and  when  seated  enchain- 
ed in  the  gloom  of  a  dungeon,  he  cheer- 
fully exclaimed :  "  I  am  ready  to  be  offered 
up !"  Noble  Paul !  Christ-like  Apostle  ! 
whence  came  this  self-immolating  spirit  ? 
Ah !  I  hear  thee  reply :  "  The  love  of 
Christ  constraineth  me." 

Does  Paul  stand  alone  in  the  possession 
of  this  martyr  spirit  ?  The  noble  army 
of  martyrs  answer  no  !  Every  age  has 
produced  its  multitudes  of  men  and  wo- 
men, whose  love  for  the  people  of  God 
was  strong  and  self-denying ;  and  in 
modern  times,  greatly  as  this  holy  love  is 
wanting  in  vast  numbers,  there  are  still 
very  many  who  both  study  and  imitate  in 


52  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


their  measure,  the  spirit  and  practice  of 
their  divine  Master. 

This  sublime  self-devotion  is  displayed 
in  that  memorable  reply  of  the  Rev.  John 
Smith,  a  once  celebrated,  but  now  de- 
ceased, preacher  in  the  Wesleyan  con- 
nection. His  prodigious  labors  in  the 
cause  of  God  had  well-nigh  prostrated 
his  muscular  frame:  his  friends  were 
alarmed.  At  a  social  meeting  of  several 
preachers,  one  of  them,  in  behalf  of  the 
rest,  attempted  to  expostulate  with  him, 
and  to  persuade  him  to  use  more  modera- 
tion. Mr.  Smith  patiently  listened,  and 
when  his  friend  ceased,  he  burst  into  tears, 
and  replied  :  "  What  you  say  is  all  cor- 
rect ;  I  ought  to  put  restraint  on  myself, 
but  O !  how  can  I  ^  God  has  given  me 
such  a  sight  of  the  state  of  perishing 
souls,  that  I  am  broken  hearted,  and  can 
only  vent  my  feelings  in  the  way  I  do. — 
Look  round  you,  my  brother ;  do  you  not 
see  sinners  going  to  hell  ?  and  when  I 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      53 

thus  see  and  feel  it,  I  am  compelled  to 
act."  And  he  did  thus  act  until,  worn 
out  by  labors  of  love,  his  body  dropped 
into  a  premature  grave. 

Many  a  modern  Christian  might  profit- 
ably study  the  spirit  of  the  Great  Alfred, 
a  Christian  prince,  who  flourished  in  an 
age  of  darkness,  and  whose  piety  shines 
like  some  lone  and  beautiful  star,  shed- 
ding its  solitary  light  on  a  cloudy  sky. 
When  this  prince  was  reduced  to  the 
condition  of  an  outcast,  and  while  he 
lodged  in  a  remote  castle,  a  poor  beggar- 
man  knocked  at  the  castle-gate,  and  be- 
sought a  crust  of  bread. 

The  queen  found  Alfred  at  study.  She 
made  known  the  beggar's  wish,  stating 
that  one  loaf  was  all  their  store,  and  it 
was  uncertain  whether  their  attendants, 
who  had  gone  in  search  of  food,  would 
bring  them  more.  Yielding  to  the  im- 
pulses of  a  genuine  Christian  love,  the 
Prince  exclaimed  :  "  Give    him    half  of 


54  CHRISTIAN     LOVE. 

our  loaf!"  thus  setting  an  example  of 
practical  love  which  may  well  excite  a 
blush  of  shame  on  the  cheek  of  many  a 
modern  professor  in  the  church  of  God. 

The  man  who  is  governed  by  selfish- 
ness, and  yet  presumes  to  rank  himself 
with  Christ's  followers,  would  do  well  to 
contrast  himself  with  these  specimens  of 
Christian  love  in  action.  We  have  shewn 
that  Christian  love  requires  both  the  ab- 
sence of  hatred,  and  of  all  other  bad  feel- 
ings and  desires,  and  the  presence  of  a 
kind,  soul-moving  regard,  exhibiting  it- 
self in  self-sacrificing  acts  of  kindness 
and  love  towards  all  the  followers  of  Je- 
sus Christ.  Nor  is  this  love  to  be  indulg- 
ed toward  a  few  only ;  but  toward  all ; 
not  for  the  members  of  our  communion 
merely,  but  for  Christ's  disciples,  where- 
ver they  may  be  found,  and  by  whatever 
name  distinguished.  He  whose  soul  is 
moved  by  Christian  love,  is  no  man's 
enemy ;  but  he  is  the  friend  of  all,  espe 


CHRISTIAN     LOVE      EXPLAINED.      55 


cially  of  the  household  of  Christ.  He 
holds  himself  ready,  to  the  extent  of  his 
talents  and  ability,  for  every  Avork  of 
mercy ;  he  is  prepared  and  desirous  to 
do  good,  both  to  the  souls  and  bodies  of 
his  fellow-Christians.  He  is  distinguished 
and  remarkable  for  this  peculiar  excel- 
lency of  character.  By  this,  all  men 
know  him  to  be  Christ's  disciple. 

Christian  reader !  have  you  this  love, 
this  fervent  charity  for  your  brethren  ? 
Search  after  it ;  nor  rest  until  all  that  is 
contrary  to  its  beautiful  operations,  is 
destroyed  within  you.  Gaze  on  your 
Master,  until  you  are  changed  into  his 
image,  and  you  can  appeal  to  your  life, 
as  you  say  to  your  fellow-Christians, 
"  Brethren,  I  love  you  as   Christ  loved 


56  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  CONQUESTS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE. 

A  CHILD  once  strayed  from  its  mo- 
ther's side.  At  first,  it  crawled  upon  the 
grass  and  laughed  and  played  among  the 
wild  flowers  that  decked  the  green.  Pre- 
sently, it  worked  its  thoughtless  way  to 
the  foot  of  a  lofty  crag.  An  eagle  seized 
it  in  his  talons  and  bore  it,  screaming,  to 
his  eyrie.  Its  cries  alarmed  the  mother. 
The  neighbors  heard  it  too,  and  rushed 
out  to  see  the  cause.  Horror  struck,  they 
saw  the  child  in  the  eagle's  power  and 
witnessed  the  monster  bird  depositing 
the  precious  victim  in  his  filthy  nest.  In- 
stantly two  or  three  bold  seamen  at- 
tempted to  scale  the  crag ;  but  were  soon 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.    57 


compelled  to  abandon  the  hopeless  task. 
Then  the  excited  motlier  rushed  up  the 
doubtful  path.  Could  she  succeed  where 
the  iron  heart  and  brawny  arm  of  the 
sailor  had  failed  ?  Breathless  her  neigh- 
bors watched  her  wild  attempt.  Up,  up 
she  went.  Love  gave  her  strength. 
From  steep  to  steep  she  climbed,  hanging 
by  some  slender  tree  or  grasping  the 
rough  stones  with  the  iron  clutch  of 
despair.  At  last  she  reached  the  dizzy 
height,  clasped  her  frightened  boy  to  her 
bosom,  and  descended  in  safety.  The 
feat  accomplished,  she  fell  fainting  to 
the  ground.  Love  had  conquered  where 
superior  strength  had  failed. 

But  the  physical  obstacle  which  was 
overcome  by  this  devoted  mother,  was 
the  smallest  part  of  her  conquest.  Her 
love  for  the  lost  boy  had  subdued  every 
other  attribute  of  her  nature  to  itself.  It 
had  extinguished,  for  the  time,  her 
natural   dread  of  pain  and  her  fear  of 


58  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


death.  Every  thing  else  gave  way  to 
love. 

And  this  is  what  love  is  always  ex- 
pected to  do.  Solomon  said  :  "  Love 
is  strong  as  death.  Many  waters  cannot 
quench  love,  neither  can  the  floods 
drown  it."  He  understood  true  affection 
to  be  powerful  in  its  resistance  to  ob- 
stacles, and  in  its  conquests  of  whatever 
might  oppose  it.  And  whoever  has  con- 
fidence in  another's  love,  expects  that 
love  to  produce  exertions  and  efforts  in 
its  possessor,  which  involves  many  sacri- 
fices and  much  noble  forgetfulness  of 
self. 

This  is  most  emphatically  true  of 
Christian  love.  Its  source,  its  example, 
is  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  sacri- 
ficed every  thing  for  man,  but  the  glory 
of  his  Father.  His  love  extinguished 
from  his  human  nature  all  self  regard ; 
he  freely  surrendered  ease,  pleasure  and 
comfort;  he  cheerfully  chose   a  life  of 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.    59 


labor,  persecution,  poverty,  and  an  igno- 
minious death  for  his  disciples'  sake.  If 
Christian  love  be  a  scion  from  this  tree, 
can  it  bear  a  diiferent  fruit  ?  If  it  be  a 
stream  from  this  fountain,  can  its  waters 
possess  an  opposite  quality  ? 

Christian  love,  then,  is  mighty  in  its 
influences  over  its  possessor.  It  extin- 
guishes the  supremacy  of  his  natural  sel- 
fishness. It  seeks  its  own  happiness 
through  that  of  others.  It  crucifies  every 
selfish  passion.  It  holds  every  selfish 
desire  in  chains.  Animated  by  the  spirit 
and  example  of  its  Author,  it  devotes  it- 
self to  the  good  of  its  Author's  friends, 
and  finds  its  own  joys  in  the  bliss  of 
others : 


It  sweeps  abroad,  and  in  its  search  to  find 

Objects  of  mercy,  goes  the  whole  world  round  3 

'Tis  like  the  sun,  rejoicing  east  and  west, 

Or  beautiful  rainbow,  bright  from  south  to  north. 

Ii  has  an  angel's  pinion,  mounting  forth 

O'er  rocks  and  hills  and  seas  to  make  men  blest." 


60  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

We  have  already  quoted  the  Apostle 
Paul  as  a  notable  example  of  Christian 
Charity.  He  may  therefore  be  permitted 
to  speak  of  its  conquests.  He  knew 
whereof  he  spoke.  What  a  list  of  cap- 
tives he  binds  to  the  chariot  of  triumph- 
ing love  !  "  Love,"  he  says,  "  suffereth 
long  and  is  kind ;  love  envieth  not ;  Jove 
vaunteth  not  itself,  is  not  puffed  up,  doth 
not  behave  itself  unseemly,  seeketh  not 
her  own,  is  not  easily  provoked,  thinketh 
no  evil ;  rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity,  but  re- 
joiceth  in  the  truth ;  beareth  all  things, 
endureth  all  things." 

These  are  the  trophies  of  love :  tro- 
phies more  glorious  than  ever  adorned 
the  triumph  of  any  other  conqueror. 
None  but  the  Captain  of  our  salvation 
ever  presented  such  proofs  of  actual  con- 
quest. Why,  the  whole  of  depraved  hu- 
man nature  is  among  them!  Envy, 
anger,  pride,  ambition,  hatred,  malice, 
lust,  and  all  evil  desire.     These  yield  to 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.   61 

love,  and  to  love  alone.  O  glorious  vic- 
tory !  Happy  is  that  heart  in  which  it 
has  been  proclaimed !  Blessed  is  that 
spirit  in  which  love  has  built  its  throne 
and  established  its  delightful  reign! 
Harmony,  beauty,  happiness  and  glory 
are  there  :  Christ  is  honored,  God  is  glo- 
rified, and  the  man  is  fitted  to  be  the  in- 
habitant of  Heaven. 

Let  us  take  a  nearer  view  of  these  no- 
ble victories  of  Love.  Let  us  examine 
them  in  detail.  There  is  one  of  them  so 
remarkable  and  so  difficult  to  win  that  it 
claims  a  careful  notice.  I  refer  to  its 
influence  upon  Envy.  This  passion  it 
totally  extinguishes.  I  beg  the  reader 
to  observe  this,  and  not  to  pass  hastily 
over  the  important  statement  of  Paul. 
Love  envieth  not!  What!  not  a  lit- 
tle, Paul  ?  May  not  a  Christian  envy  a 
vary  little  in  some  particular  instances  ? 
Not  if  he  have  love,  for  Love  envieth 
not  !    It  cannot  envy ;  it  is  contrary  to 


62  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

its  nature  to  do  so.  Love  and  envy  can- 
not dwell  together.  Love  is  firo,  Envy 
is  water.  It  must  therefore  absorb  Envy, 
or  be  itself  quenched  by  it.  Love  is  of 
God;  Envy  is  of  the  Devil.  United 
therefore  in  the  same  heart  they  cannot 
be.  The  truth  is  plain  beyond  all  suc- 
cessful controversy,  that  Love  envieth 

NOT  ! 

Envy  is  a  monster  passion ;  an  evil 
eye  in  the  mind  ;  a  moral  jaundice,  dis- 
coloring all  it  looks  upon.  It  is  the 
offspring  of  a  most  depraved  selfishness. 
Its  possessor  claims  to  be  the  sole  object 
of  honor,  admiration  and  regard ;  he 
casts  a  scowling  eye  on  the  prosperity  of 
others ;  he  frets  himself  at  their  adva;ice- 
ment ;  another's  praise  sounds  harshly  on 
his  ears  ;  he  brooks  no  rivals  ;  if  he  sus- 
pect a  rivalry  in  another,  he  becomes  his 
bitter  enemy ;  slander  and  backbiting 
become  his  instruments,  and  to  the  ex- 
tent of  his  means,  he  seeks  the  injury  of 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.   63 

his  rival.  His  envy  has  only  one  limit, 
his  own  self  love.  When  its  gratifica- 
tion threatens  to  rebound  on  his  own 
head,  he  stops  and  cunningly  studies 
other  modes  of  inflicting  blows  that  may 
be  felt  on  the  object  of  his  hate. 

Is  it  wonderful  that  the  Bible  speaks 
in  strong  language  against  this  passion  ? 
That  it  says,  "  Envy  is  the  rottenness  of 
the  bones."  It  even  classes  it  with  the 
worst  of  sin.  The  Apostle  Paul  calls  it 
a  work  of  the  flesh.  "  For  the  works  of 
the  flesh  are  envtings,  murders,  drunk- 
enness, revellings  and  such  like."  And 
James  Avrites,  "Where  envying  and 
strife  is,  there  is  confusion  and  every 
evil  work." 

Can  it  be  possible  then  for  a  man  im- 
bued with  Christian  love,  to  be  envious  ? 
Can  a  passion  so  fearfully  stigmatized, 
and  so  strongly  condemned  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  co-exist  with  that  lovely  aff'ection 
for  the  children  of  God,  which  charac- 


64  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

terizes  all  who  are  born  of  the  Spirit  ? 
A  man  must  have  taken  leave  of  com- 
mon sense,  to  answer  these  questions 
affirmatively.  Envy  is  the  destruction  of 
love,  and  if  the  reader  be  envious  of  his 
brethren  and  sisters  in  the  church  of 
God,  he  is  solemnly  assured  he  is  a 
stranger  to  genuine  Christian  love. 

Saul,  the  first  monarch  of  the  Jewish 
nation,  is  an  example  of  a  victim  to  this 
hateful  passion.  Tall  and  stately  in  his 
person;  of  royal  and  noble  bearing; 
placed  by  the  divine  choice  at  the  head 
of  God's  selected  nation ;  he,  of  all 
others,  had  no  cause  for  envy.  But  when 
the  stripling  shepherd  returned  from  vic- 
torious battle  with  the  giant  foe,  whose 
massive  strength  even  Saul  himself  had 
not  dared  to  meet ;  and  when  the  daugh- 
ters of  Israel  sang  in  triumph  that  Saul 
had  slain  his  thousands,  but  David  his 
ten  thousands  ;  then,  Saul's  selfish  heart 
spoke  out.    He  listened  and  was  con- 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.   65 

quered.  Envy  filled  his  beclouded  soul. 
He  sought  his  rival's  life.  By  every  wily 
stratagem,  at  first ;  and  then  with  royal 
force  he  endeavored  to  procure  his  de- 
struction. He  drove  him  into  exile ; 
hunted  him  like  a  beast  in  the  wilder- 
ness ;  proscribed  him  as  a  traitor  at 
home  !  Nor  did  he  cease  his  bitter  envy- 
ings  until  God  utterly  departed  from  him 
and  left  him  to  perish  untimely  by  the 
hands  of  the  Philistines. 

Again  I  ask,  if  this  hateful  passion 
can  exist  in  a  heart  that  is  sprinkled  with 
the  baptism  of  Christ  ?  Was  Saul  like 
Jesus  Christ  ?  Neither  is  an  envious 
man ;  though  he  profess  the  religion  of 
the  Savior.  If  we  envy,  we  cannot  love 
one  another  as  Christ  loved  us. 

But  are  there  no  signs  of  envy  among 
those  who  profess  to  be  Christians  ? 
Alas !  where  is  the  church  in  which 
these  weeds  are  not  growing  ?  Where 
is  the  people  among  whom  this  deadly 


GQ  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

poison  is  not  doing-  its  work  of  death  ? 
Are  there  not  many  who  envy  their  fellow 
professors  ;  and  who,  nevertheless,  do  not 
doubt  their  own  Christianity  ?  The  lips 
that  bless,  curse  also  and  feel  no  self- 
condemnation  ;  and  thus  shew  a  sad  want 
of  conscience  on  a  vital  point. 

Let  us  look  at  a  few  specimen  facts. 
There  is  Eugenius.  He  represents  a 
class  of  members  in  the  Christian 
church,  who,  though  somewhat  active 
in  many  of  its  departments,  are  neverthe- 
less very  imperfect  in  their  characters. 
But  let  us  observe  Eugenius  a  mo- 
ment. 

He  is  at  a  prayer  meeting  :  that  place 
where  he  professes  to  meet  God.  A 
brother  is  called  upon,  by  the  person 
who  has  charge  of  the  meeting,  or  by  the 
minister,  to  pray.  Immediately  an  ill- 
concealed  frown  gathers  on  the  brow  of 
Eugenius.  His  enjoyment  is  destroyed. 
He  wishes  the  meeting  over.  Why  this  ? 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.   67 

He  felt  slighted.  The  imaginary  atten- 
tion paid  to  his  fellow-laborer  excited  his 
envy.  Had  he  received  the  supposed 
honor,  he  would  have  enjoyed  the  meet- 
ing. He  always  feels  in  this  manner 
when  others  receive  personal  attentions 
which  are  not  first  offered  to  himself. 

The  meeting  is  over,  and  Eugenius 
retires  with  the. rest.  "Well,  Br.  Euge- 
nius, how  did  you  enjoy  the  meeting  to- 
night ?  "  inquires  a  pious  brother. 

"I  did  not  see  any  thing  special  to 
enjoy,"  is  the  retort. 

"  Indeed !  it  has  been  a  truly  refresh- 
ing season  to  me." 

"  Wei],  I  get  tired  of  hearing  the  same 
persons  all  the  time.  There  is  Br.  Z., 
who  is  always  pushing  himself  forward. 
He  thinks  there  is  no  one  so  able  as 
himself." 

"  You  are  uncharitable,  brother." 

"  No,  I  am  not.  I  know  Z.  well.  He 
wants  to  be  first  in  every  thing ;  and  if  he 


68  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

can't  be,  he  wont  be  any  thing.  I  like 
to  see  equality  among-  brethren." 

"So  do  I.  And  I  see  no  inequality 
among  us.  We  all  have  the  same  privi- 
leges as  Br.  Z.  if  we  choose  to  use  them." 

"  I  do  n't  see  it  so.  And  I  do  n't  intend 
to  let  Br.  Z.,  or  any  other  brother,  lord  it 
over  me.  I  believe  in  Christian  equality." 

It  is  very  clear  from  this  suppositious 
conversation,  that  whatever  Eugenius  be- 
lieves of  equality,  he  needs  to  believe 
more  in  brotherly  love.  How  plainly  the 
prejudiced  eye  of  envy  appears!  And 
how  obvious  the  truth  that  the  class  of 
persons  represented  by  Eugenius  are 
violaters  of  the  New  Commandment ! 

In  pursuing  the  evidences  of  a  want  of 
Christian  love  further,  let  me  call  atten- 
tion to  the  depreciating  remarks  which 
but  too  commonly  drop  from  the  lips  of 
Christian  females,  concerning  each  other. 
One  has  a  new  dress.  "  How  extrava- 
gant ! "  exclaims  envy,  and  the  speaker 


CONQUESTS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE,     by 

purposes,  that  same  instant,  to  purchase 
one  for  herself  more  extravagant  still. 
Another  has  some  addition  to  her  house- 
hold furniture.  "She  is  looking  up  in 
the  world  !  She  will  have  company  soon 
to  show  her  fine  things,"  cries  envy- 
again,  while  in  her  heart,  the  speaker 
longs  for  the  same  means  of  display.  A 
third  is  the  subject  of  praise.  Envy  re- 
plies, "  You  don't  know  her  so  well  as  I 
do.     She  is  not  all  she  appears  to  be." 

Now  Avhat  shall  be  said  of  such 
remarks  as  these  ?  Allow  much  for 
thoughtlessness,  still  the  truth  stares  you 
in  the  face,  that  "  out  of  the  abundance 
of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh : "  the 
inference  is  irresistible,  that  these  envi- 
ous fruits  have  an  envious  source,  and 
that  the  new  commandment  is  not  kept 
by  multitudes  of  nominal  Christians. 

Again,  Christian  reader,  let  me  sol- 
emnly appeal  to  your  conscience  !  Are 
you  not  the  subject  of  these  envyings  in 


70  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

your  heart,  if  indeed  you  do  not  give 
them  expression  on  the  tongue  ?  See 
then  how  strangely  inconsistent  this 
envy  is  with  that  sublime,  holy,  self- 
denying  love  enjoined  upon  you  by  the 
authority  of  Jesus  Christ.  Love  delights 
in  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  others ; 
j'ea,  it  rejoices  to  contribute  to  their  ho- 
nor and  enjoyment.  Love  glories  to  see 
its  objects  increasing  in  every  desirable 
good.  Does  not  a  mother  identify  her 
own  happiness  with  the  prosperity  of  her 
son  ?  Can  you  fret  her  feelings  by  tel- 
ling how  rich,  how  honored,  how  beau- 
tiful, or  how  fortunate  is  her  child  ?  No ! 
Such  intelligence  delights  her.  And  if 
you  were  the  possessor  of  Christian  love, 
would  you  not  rejoice  at  the  wealth, 
honor,  happiness  or  praise  of  others? 
Cast  forth,  then,  that  hateful  monster. 
Envy,  from  your  bosom.  God  alone  can 
reveal  how  much  you  have  already  en- 
dured   from    its    abominable    presence. 


CONQUESTS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE.     71 


Remember  that  Charity  envieth  not. 
Give  due  heed  to  the  Apostolic  exhorta- 
tion, "  Wherefore  laying  aside  all  malice, 
and  all  guile  and  hypocrisies,  and  en- 
vies, and  all  evil-speakings,  as  new  born 
babes  desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the 
word,  that  ye  may  grow  thereby ; "  and 
do  this  the  more  because  God  hath  writ- 
ten of  the  envious  that  "  they  shall  see 

and    BE    ASHAMED    FOR    THEIR    ENVY   at 

the  people." 


72  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  CONaUESTS    OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE. 

Among  the  many  spectacles  of  moral 
sublimity  presented  in  Bible  history,  I 
know  of  none  superior  to  the  tragic  death 
of  Stephen,  the  first  martyr.  Dragged 
with  violence  before  the  lordly,  Jewish 
Sanhedrim,  maliciously  charged  with 
blasphemy  by  false  witnesses,  he  stands 
confronted  with  his  powerful  enemies ! 
How  striking  the  contrast  between  them ! 
They,  clothed  with  authority  and  official 
dignity,  yet  exhibiting  the  ferocious  tem- 
pers of  a  chained  fiend ;  he,  a  poor  unde- 
fended prisoner,  yet  presenting  the  lofty 
bearing  and  dazzling  innocence  of  an 
angel !     How  noble  his  brave  and  manly 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.    73 

defence !  But  what  fierce  passions  it  sets 
astir  in  their  dark  breasts !  They  gnash  at 
him  with  their  teeth !  They  utter  violent 
cries  of  rage !  They  stop  their  ears!  They 
rush  tumultuously  upon  him,  drag  him 
with  merciless  wrath  without  the  city, 
and  there  cruelly  commence  the  work  of 
stoning  him  to  death ! 

Behold  the  martyr !  Not  a  gleam  of 
unholy  passion  lights  his  eyes ;  not  a  drop 
of  angry  blood  swells  his  veins.  Lo !  he 
kneels  with  his  last  remaining  strength, 
and  amidst  a  deadly  shower  of  stones, 
cries  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Lord,  lay  not 
this  sin  to  their  charge!  " 

This  was  the  triumph  of  Christian  love 
over  human  nature!  A  practical  illus- 
tration of  a  truth  subsequently  propoun- 
ded by  the  apostle  Paul,  "  Love  is  not 

EASILY  PROVOKED." 

This  is  the  aspect  in  which  we  now 
desire  to  present  Christian  love.  As  oil 
smoothes  the  surface  of  the  waters  on 


74  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

which  it  may  be  cast,  so  true  Christian 
affection  keeps  the  natural  temper  unruf- 
fled ;  it  silences  the  voice  of  anger,  pre- 
vents hardness  of  feeling,  and  enables  its 
possessor  to  endure  the  frailties,  the  in- 
firmities, and  even  the  sins  of  his  breth- 
ren, without  being  provoked  or  excited 
to  angry,  bitter  feelings. 

There  are  many  professing  Christians 
who  feel  enraptured  as  they  study  the 
forbearing  love  of  Stephen,  and  other 
noble  confessors  of  Christ,  and  yet  in- 
dulge bitter,  acrimonious  feelings  in  their 
hearts,  towards  their  fellow  Christians. 
What  greater  hindrance  is  there  to  the 
work  of  God  than  a  want  of  unity  in  the 
church  ?  And  what  is  a  want  of  unity 
but  the  -presence  of  alienations,  heart- 
burnings and  bitterness  ?  Disguise  it  as 
we  may,  this  is  the  sober  truth.  Love 
will  compel  unity,  with  its  delightful 
force,  wherever  it  exists,  but  if  this  sweet 
compulsion  be  resisted,  it  immediately 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.   75 


expires.  Disunion  is  the  death  of 
love. 

The  worst  feature  of  this  evil  is,  that 
many  professing  Christians  believe  they 
may  have  hardness  in  their  hearts,  and 
yet  retain  the  smile  of  God.  They  even 
cling  to  their  enmities  with  the  tenacity 
of  despair,  and  defend  them  with  an  ear- 
nestness worthy  of  a  better  cause.  Go 
to  a  brother  or  sister  of  this  cast,  and 
something  like  tlie  following  dialogue 
may  pass  between  you : 

"  Brother  A.  there  seems  to  be  some 
hardness  between  you  and  Brother  B.  Is 
it  not  possible  to  remove  it  ?" 

"  Yes,  there  is,  but  it  is  not  my  fault. 
I  have  no  wish  to  injure  the  brother,  I 
am  sure." 

"  But  you  do  injure  him  by  withhold- 
ing your  love  from  him,  and  by  exhibit- 
ing the  feelings  you  possess." 

"  I  can't  help  it  Who  can  love  a  dis- 
agreeable  man.^      If  that   brother  was 


76  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


what  he  ought  to  be,  I  should  love 
him." 

"  But  you  are  bound  to  love  him  on 
Christ's  account." 

"  I  don't  believe  he  is  a  Christian.  He 
does  not  manifest  a  Christian  spirit." 

"  Still  you  are  bound  to  love  him. 
Christ  says  to  his  disciples,  '  Love  your 
enemies.' " 

"  When  he  is  humble  I  will  love  him. 
He  has  not  used  me  like  a  g-entleman, 
and  I  can't  like  him  until  he  asks  my  for- 
giveness." 

"  But  perhaps  he  is  not  aware  of  hav- 
ing offended  you." 

"  Well,  he  has,  and  I  can't  feel  right 
towards  him." 

"  But,  my  brother  !  how  can  you  retain 
the  favor  of  God  with  these  hard  feel- 


ings 


?» 


"  I  enjoy  my  mind  very  well,  and  don't 
think  there  is  any  thing  wrong  in  my 
feelings  towards  Brother  B.     He  has  in- 


CONQUESTS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE.     77 


jured  me  ;  he  shows  a  proud  spirit ;  and 
I  am  not  going  to  yield  to  him  until  he 
yields  to  me." 

Is  this  dialogue  a  caricature  ?  Would 
to  God  it  were  1  It  is  but  too  true  a  pic- 
ture of  life.  Its  fac  simile  is  to  be  found 
almost  every  where.  Thousands,  if  they 
were  to  read  it,  might  be  disposed  to 
judge  themselves  the  originals  of  this 
but  too  faithful  portrait. 

The  fact  is  indisputable,  that  many 
break  the  law  of  love  and  feel  guiltless, 
nay,  they  even  justify  themselves.  Why 
does  this  self-deception  exist?  The 
great  reason  is,  that  the  parties  do  not 
see  the  scope  nor  understand  the  genius 
of  the  gospel  on  the  subject  of  love. 

Yet  how  plain  are  its  teachings, 
"Love  is  not  easily  provoked  !"  or, 
as  our  best  critical  commentator,  Clarke, 
observes,  "  Is  not  provoked ;  is  not  irri- 
tated;  is  not  made  sour  or  hitter,''^  "  How 
the  word  easily,"  he  adds,  "  got  into  our 


78  CHRISTIAN     LOVE. 


translation,  it  is  hard  to  say;  but  how- 
ever it  got  in  it  is  utterly  improper,  and 
has  nothing  in  the  original  to  counte- 
nance it."  Again,  after  furnishing  learn- 
ed proof  of  his  statement,  he  continues  : 
"The  common  version  of  this  text  de- 
stroys the  meaning  of  the  Apostle.  If 
love  IS  provoked  at  all,  then  it  ceases  to 
be  love.  When  the  man  who  possesses 
this  love  gives  way  to  provocation,  he 
loses  the  balance  of  his  soul  and  grieves 
the  Spirit  of  God.  However  favorably  we 
may  think  of  our  own  state,  and  however 
industrious  we  may  be  to  find  out  ex- 
cuses for  sallies  of  passion,  still  the  tes- 
timony of  God  is,  'Love  is  not  pro- 
voked ; '  and  if  I  have  not  such  a  love, 
whatever  else  I  may  possess,  it  profiteth 
me  nothing." 

That  this  is  the  correct  understanding 
of  the  Apostle  is  placed  beyond  dispute 
by  his  own  words  in  another  verse. 
"Love,"  he   says,   ^^beareth   all  things. 


CONQUESTS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE.     79 


Love  endureth  all  things!  However 
wrong  the  treatment;  however  long  it 
continues  ;  however  aggravated  and  pain- 
ful, genuine  Christians  walk  '  with  all 
lowliness  and  meekness ;  with  long  suf- 
fering ;  forbearing  one  another  and  for- 
giving one  another.' "  They  remember 
the  words  of  Jesus,  "  Love  your  enemies, 
bless  them  that  curse  you ;  do  good  to 
them  that  hate  you ;  resist  not  evil ! " 
Nothing  can  provoke  them  to  revenge. 
Even  insult  fails  where  true  grace 
triumphs.  Turenne,  once  Marshal  of 
France,  and  a  truly  brave  man,  is  an  ex- 
ample. A  young  sprig  of  nobility  had 
taken  offence  at  some  professional  act  of 
the  Marshal's,  and  challenged  him  to 
fight  a  duel.  The  Marshal  declined  by 
maintaining  a  dignified  silence.  The  re- 
vengeful noble,  resolved  on  provoking  his 
unresisting  enemy  to  a  conflict,  approach- 
ed him  in  a  public  place  and  deliberately 
spit  in  his  face.     This  was  a  provocation 


80  CHRISTIAN  LOVE. 

indeed.  Proud  men,  whose  false  educa- 
tion taught  them  that  such  an  insult 
could  only  be  washed  out  with  blood, 
were  the  witnesses.  Did  the  Marshal 
feel  resentment  ?  For  a  brief  moment 
his  nature  felt.  The  indignant  blood 
rushed  to  his  face ;  his  hand  involunta- 
rily grasped  his  sword.  But  it  was  only 
for  a  moment.  The  Marshal  remem- 
bered his  principles;  his  religion  spoke 
out,  and  he  obeyed  its  speaking.  Taking 
out  his  handkerchief,  he  wiped  away  the 
spittle,  and  remarke'd,  "Young  man! 
could  I  as  easily  wipe  your  blood  from  my 
conscience,  as  I  can  this  spittle  from  my 
face,  I  would  kill  you  on  the  spot.  Go, 
sir!"  Considering  the  age  in  which 
Turenne  lived,  his  position,  and  the  cha- 
racter of  the  insult,  this  reply  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  instances  of  for- 
bearance on  record.  For  offences  infi- 
nitely smaller,  there  are  many  professing 
Christians    who    have    unsheathed    the 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.    81 

sword  of  their  anger,  and  for  years  have 
followed  their  victims  with  unrelenting 
hatred ;  totally  forgetful  of  the  sweet 
spirit  of  their  professed  Master,  and  of 
their  obligation  to  be  as  near  like  to  him 
as  disciple  can  be  like  his  Lord. 

And  now,  dear  reader,  let  me  affection- 
ately exhort  you  to  consider  this  topic 
carefully  :  especially,  if  you  are  the 
subject  of  variances  and  strifes ;  of  bit- 
terness and  bad  feeling.  Settle  it  in 
your  mind,  for  the  truth  is  clear,  that,  if 
you  are  indulging  bitterness  tov^^ards  any 
creature,  either  in  or  out  of  the  church, 
you  have  lost  the  divine  favor;  you  are 
in  the  gall  of  bitterness  and  in  the  bonds 
of  iniquity.  Go,  forthwith  to  your  closet, 
confess  your  sin  to  God.  Go !  by  your 
soul's  price  I  entreat  you.  Go  !  be  rec- 
onciled to  your  brother,  and  henceforth 
pray  to  be  a  living  illustration  of  the 
truth  that  love  is  never  provoked. 

There    is   yet    another    conquest    of 


82  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

Christian  love  deserving-  serious  consid- 
eration. It  effectually  destroys  that  de- 
praved habit  of  suspicion  and  evil  sur- 
mising- which  reigns  so  absolutely  in  the 
unrenewed  heart.  This  is  manifestly 
taught  by  Paul.  "  Love,"  he  says, 
"  THiNKETH  NO  EVIL.  Love  believoth 
all  things.     Love  hopeth  all  things." 

The  natural  heart  begets  the  most  un- 
charitable judgments  of  men.  One  of  its 
favorite  mottoes  is  :  "  Believe  every  man 
a  rogue  until  you  are  convinced  of  the 
contrary."  A  motto  which,  if  universally 
acted  upon,  would  convert  the  world  into 
a  miniature  hell.  It  is  the  smoke  of 
Tophet  rising  from  man's  invincible  de- 
pravity; blinding  his  eyes  to  the  sight 
of  virtue,  and  giving  its  own  black  hues 
to  every  surrounding  object.  It  ani- 
mates the  worst  dispositions  of  nature ; 
attributes  bad  motives  to  good  acts,  and 
beholds  a  fancied  resemblance  to  its  de- 
praved self  in  all  its  species. 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.    83 


Love  destroys  this  disposition ;  it  re- 
verses this  horrible  motto.  True  Chris- 
tian love  compels  its  possessor  never  to 
believe  evil  of  his  brother,  unless  it  is 
visible.  It  demands  irrefragable  evi- 
dence before  it  condemns.  If  the  act  be 
made  certain,  and  a  good  motive  can  be 
supposed,  love  searches  for  that  motive. 
If  evil  reports  are  circulated,  love  hopes 
they  are  false ;  or  if  they  are  true,  that 
they  are  not  so  bad  as  represented,  and 
when  their  existence  and  bad  character 
are  made  sure,  love  will  plead  the  aggra- 
vations and  extraordinary  provocations 
of  the  case,  and,  with  a  heart  deeply 
aifected,  set  about  the  reformation  of  the 
offender. 

There  is  a  beautiful  simplicity  in 
Christian  love.  It  realizes  Christ's  idea 
of  his  disciples  being  like  a  little  child. 
Behold  that  little  boy !  He  is  leaning 
upon  his  mother's  knee,  his  face  turned 
upward,  gazing  intently  upon  her.     The 


84  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


mother  is  telling  the  child  of  heaven  and 
its  beauties.  The  child  hears  all,  be- 
lieves all ;  raises  no  doubt,  nor  questions 
once  the  truth  of  his  parent's  word.  To 
his  unsophisticated  soul,  all  becomes  real 
truth,  and  he  rejoices  in  the  hope,  if  he  is 
good,  of  wearing  a  crown  of  gold,  and 
walking  in  a  robe  of  light  along  the 
streets  of  God's  holy  city. 

Thus  Avill  Christian  love  believe  all 
(good)  things  of  "  the  brethren,"  with 
unquestioning  simplicity.  It  wishes  and 
consequently  believes  such  things  true. 
It  has  no  eye  to  see  a  worm  within  the 
fruit ;  no  heart  to  fancy  rottenness  in  the 
bones  beneath  the  cheek  of  health ;  no 
mind  to  discern  hypocrisy  in  a  well-sus- 
tained profession  of  faith  in  Christ.  It 
"  hopeth  all  things,"  and  persists  in  hop- 
ing until  judgment  lays  a  finger  on  its 
lips  and  commands  it  to  hope  no  more. 

By  these  remarks  it  is  not  meant  that 
Christian  love  winks  at  real  sin,  or  with- 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.    85 


holds  sharp  rebukes  from  actual  of- 
fenders. This  would  not  accord  with 
the  example  of  our  blessed  Lord.  He 
could  say  to  his  Peter,  "  Get  thee  behind 
me  Satan ! "  He  could  deal  out  severe 
anathemas  on  incorrigible  offenders. 
Love  can  follow  this  example  in  its 
degree,  and  yet,  in  the  true  spirit  of  the 
Great  Shepherd,  seeking  his  own  lost 
sheep,  obey  the  apostolic  requisition : 
"  Brethren,  if  a  man  be  overtaken  with 
a  fault,  ye  which  are  spiritual,  restore 
such  a  one  in  the  spirit  of  meekness; 
considering  thyself  lest  thou  also  be 
tempted." 

But  it  is  meant,  that  with  respect  to 
all  conduct  not  decidedly  sinful  —  all 
actions  whose  character  admits  of  dif- 
ferent motives,  or  which  may  proceed  from 
errors  and  mistakes  of  judgment  —  love 
takes  the  favorable  side ;  it  uniformly  re- 
gards all  conduct  in  others  as  innocent, 
until  it  is  demonstrated  to  be  guilty. 


86  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


This  being  the  case,  "  Love  biteth  not 
with  the  tongue."  He  who  is  imbued 
with  Christian  love,  "  speakdh  evil  of  no 
person ; "  no,  not  even  of  an  avowed 
enemy.  Slander  and  back-biting  he 
abhors  as  he  would  an  adder.  True  or 
false,  he  never  propagates  evil  surmises 
or  sayings  concerning  others.  He  care- 
fully avoids  all  remarks  upon  his  fellow 
disciples,  that  would  degrade  their  cha- 
racters or  diminish  their  influence.  The 
good  name  of  others  is  as  precious  to 
him  as  his  own.  He  speaks  of  all  his 
fellow-laborers  in  Christ  as  a  mother  of 
her  children ;  and  as  she  can  discover 
something  excellent  and  admirable,  even 
in  her  homeliest  babe,  so  can  he,  whose 
soul  is  full  of  love,  see  something  to 
praise  in  the  least  attractive  of  his  Mas- 
ter's followers. 

How  lovely  is  this  aspect  of  Christian 
Love!  What  a  desirable — yea,  what 
an  Eden-like  home  would  Christ's  church 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.    87 


be,  if  its  members  uniformly  displayed 
this  spirit !  There  are  some  who  do 
possess  it,  and  they  have  their  reward. 
They  are,  as  the  noblest  trees  in  a  forest, 
attracting  universal  admiration.  They 
are  as  the  choicest  flowers  in  a  garden, 
praised  by  every  observer.  They  are  odor- 
iferous plants,  whose  delicious  fragrancy 
delights  both  Christ  and  his  saints ! 
But  alas !  how  few  comparatively  are 
such  disciples!  What  multitudes  sur- 
round them,  whose  tongues  make  '•  hard 
speeches  :  boast  great  things,"  and  are 
"  unruly  evils,  full  of  deadly  poison."  Go 
into  their  society,  and  what  is  their 
theme  of  conversation  ?  Character !  Per- 
sons !  These  sacred  things  they  treat  as 
unceremoniously  and  with  as  little  feel- 
ing, as  the  anatomist  treats  the  body 
under  dissection.  Words  are  uttered, 
which,  if  known  to  the  parties  they  con- 
cern, would  wound  them  to  the  quick  and 
make   their  hearts  bleed  with   ansruish. 


CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


Judgments  are  pronounced  which,  if  true, 
ought  lo  exclude  the  persons  from  the 
church  of  God.  And  why  is  all  this 
done  ?  O  shame !  It  is  done  for  the 
pleasure  it  affords !  Professing  Chris- 
tians gloat  over  a  prostrate  character,  as 
vultures  over  blood  !  They  take  unholy 
delight  in  an  unholy  task !  No  wonder 
they  complain  of  leanness  and  confess 
unfaithfulness  to  their  profession  ;  but  it 
will  be  wonderful  if  such  violators  of  the 
law  of  love  ever  find  a  place  in  heaven, 
without  deep  contrition. 

Such  conversations  often  result  seri- 
ously and  painfully.  Much  as  Christ's 
body  has  suffered  by  the  persecutions  of 
the  wicked,  it  may  be  reasonably  ques- 
tioned if  it  has  not  suffered  incalculably 
more  by  the  unlovely  and  unloving 
habits  of  its  own  members.  Many  a 
church  is  filled  with  distractions  and 
divisions,  through  this  pestilent  habit  of 
backbiting   and   evil   speaking.     Words 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.    89 

are  sharp  swords,  and  Christ  is  wounded 
in  the  house  of  his  friends. 

A  forcible  example  of  the  bad  effects 
of  uncharitable  remark,  is  furnished  in 
the  life  of  that  eminent  man  of  God, 
Richard  Watson,  who,  in  his  day,  was 
one  of  the  brightest  stars  in  the  firma- 
ment of  Wesleyan  Methodism.  He  had 
expressed  his  mind  somewhat  freely  upon 
certain  doctrinal  points.  Some  persons, 
who  did  love  him,  spread  a  report  that  he 
had  embraced  the  Arian  heresy.  Others, 
lacking  a  spirit  of  charity,  believed  this 
report  without  inquiry.  When  the  un- 
suspecting- brother  went  as  usual  to 
preach  on  his  circuit,  the  chapel  was 
closed  against  him,  and  his  former  friends 
refused  him  a  night's  lodging. 

All  this  was  manifestly  a  violation  of 
the  law  of  love.  The  report,  and  its  be- 
lief without  inquiry,  were  both  alike  con- 
trary to  love.  What  was  the  result  ?  It 
very  nearly  caused  the  extinguishment  of 


90  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

that  great  light  of  Methodism.  Mr.  Wat- 
son was  young,  he  possessed  great  lofti- 
ness of  mind,  and  under  the  impulse  of 
strong  resentment,  withdrew  from  the 
work  of  God,  and  retired  into  private  life 
for  upwards  of  two  years.  It  is  surpris- 
ing he  was  not  wholly  lost  to  the  church. 

It  is  sometimes  objected  to  this  claim 
for  charity  concerning  others,  that  if 
obeyed  it  would  subject  us  to  the  dupli- 
city and  deceptions  of  designing  men. 
These,  it  is  said,  would  easily  impose 
upon  such  charity  and  make  the  godly 
man  their  dupe. 

This  is  a  possible  result  of  a  noble 
Christian  love,  no  doubt.  But  I  think  it 
would  not  be  a  frequent  one.  As  ex- 
treme weakness  is  often  the  best  defence 
against  superior  strength  —  for  where  is 
the  man  who  would  undertake  to  fight  a 
child  —  so  genuine  affection  is  the  best 
protection  from  deception.  Vice  quails 
and  blushes  in  the  presence  of  genuine 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.   91 

virtue,  and  is  rarely  disposed  to  take  the 
advantage.  Besides,  the  deception  can- 
not last  long.  The  rule  of  love  is  recip- 
rocal. And  what  binds  one  to  kindness, 
also  obliges  the  other.  So  that  a  de- 
ceiver, lacking  the  fruits  of  love,  would 
speedily  forfeit  his  claim  to  the  confi- 
dence and  special  regards  of  Christian 
charity. 

But  if  it  were  not  so,  still  we  are  bound 
to  obey  our  blessed  Master.  We  had 
better  be  deceived  occasionally,  than  to 
omit  the  courtesies  of  love  to  a  real  dis- 
ciple. The  cup  of  water  given  in  the 
name  of  a  disciple  will  have  its  reward, 
though  given  by  honest  mistake  to  a 
devil ;  while  it  would  be  a  painful  misr 
take,  through  a  habit  of  cold  suspicion, 
to  repulse  and  distract  one  beloved  dis- 
ciple of  our  common  Lord. 

Mr.  Wesley  illustrates  this  principle  by 
a  remarkable  fact.  In  his  sermon  on 
Dives  and  Lazarus,  he  says,  "At  Epworth 


92  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


in  Lincolnshire,  the  town  where  I  was 
born,  a  beggar  came  to  a  house  in  the 
market  place,  and  begged  a  morsel  of 
bread,  saying,  She  was  very  hungry. 
The  master  bid  her  begone,  for  a  lazy 
jade.  She  called  at  a  second,  and  beg- 
ged a  little  small  beer,  saying  she  was 
very  thirsty.  She  had  much  the  same 
answer.  At  a  third  door  she  begged  a 
little  water,  saying,  She  was  very  faint. 
But  she  was  repulsed  here  also.  The 
boys  seeing  a  ragged  creature  turned 
from  door  to  door,  began  to  pelt  her 
with  snow  balls.  She  looked  up,  lay 
down,  and  died." 

Would  it  not  be  better  to  relieve  a 
hundred  undeserving  beggars,  than  to 
turn  away  so  needy  a  creature  and  have 
her  die  on  your  door  step  ?  So  also  it  is 
better  to  have  charity  for  many  guilty, 
than,  by  a  habit  of  cold  suspicion,  to  shut 
out  the  real  followers  of  Christ  from  the 
bowels  of  our  compassion. 


CONQUESTS    OF    CHRISTIAN    LOVE.    93 


Seek,  therefore,  beloved  reader,  to  be 
fully  possessed  of  the  '•  love  of  the  bre- 
thren." Study  its  broad  requirements, 
abstain  from  its  violation,  and  spread  an 
influence  of  affectionate  kindness  through 
whatever  sphere  you  may  occupy  in  this 
world  of  sin. 


94  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  FRUITS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE. 

Among  the  poems  of  Wordsworth  there 
is  one  which  cannot  be  read  without  a 
tear.  It  is  called,  "  The  Sailor's  Mother," 
and  is  a  versification  of  a  most  affecting 
incident.  A  matron,  past  her  prime,  tall 
and  majestic  in  her  person,  meets  the 
poet  He  is  struck  with  the  dignity  she 
displays,  and  while  secretly  admiring 
her  appearance,  is  surprised  to  hear  her 
solicit  alms.  Perceiving  something  care- 
fully protected  from  the  foggy  air  by  her 
cloak,  he  inquires  the  nature  of  her  bur- 
den. She  displays  a  tiny  singing  bird, 
and  relates  how  she  had  a  son  who  had 
long  sailed  upon  the  seas.     Recently  he 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.        95 

had  perished  on  the  coast  of  Denmark, 
and  she  had  travelled  many  weary  miles 
on  foot  to  see  if  "  aught  which  he  had 
owned  might  still  remain  for  her."  She 
had  found  this  bird.  It  was  her  son's 
bird,  she  said  ;  it  had  gone  many  voyages 
with  him ;  he  loved  it.  When  last  he 
sailed,  he  had  left  it  to  a  friend's  care. 
There  she  had  found  it ;  the  only  relic 
of  her  lost  son.  And  because  he  loved 
that  singing  bird,  she  had,  in  weariness 
and  trial,  borne  it  towards  her  home. 
She  had  protected  it  with  all  the  care  of 
love. 

How  forcibly  does  this  beautiful  fact 
illustrate  the  kindness  of  love.  That 
mother  loved  her  son,  and  that  affection 
had  led  her  to  a  self-sacrificing  kindness, 
and  when  he  no  longer  lived  to  receive  it, 
she  exercised  it  on  his  bird  !  Kindness 
is  the  first  born  of  love  ! 

"  Love  is  KIND  ; "  it  "  suffereth  long ; " 
it  "  doth  not  behave  itself  unseemly  ; "  it 


96  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

"vaunteth  not  itself."  These  features 
belong  to  it ;  they  characterize  it ;  kind- 
ness of  spirit ;  mildness  of  speech  ;  meek- 
ness of  manner  ;  gentleness  of  behavior, 
are  its  legitimate  fruits  as  described  in 
Holy  Writ. 

A  Christian  will  manifest  his  love  to 
the  brethren  by  the  spirit  of  kindness 
which  will  characterize  his  intercourse 
with  them.  The  heart  will,  in  spite  of 
itself,  find  expression  in  the  manners.  If 
hatred,  sourness,  envy  or  suspicion  has  a 
temple  there,  it  will  be  visible  in  the  cold 
stateliness  or  the  forbidding  severity  of 
the  outer  man.  If  Love  sways  its  scep- 
tre on  the  heart's  throne,  its  empire  will 
be  extended  to  the  outward  manners. 
The  mild  eye,  the  speaking  feature,  the 
softened  tones  of  voice  will  be  cheerful 
witnesses  of  its  inward  dominion.  If  the 
heart  loves,  I  repeat,  that  love  will  work 
itself  out  in  rills  of  kindness  to  refresh 
and  bless  the  world. 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.        97 


Still,  it  must  be  admitted  concerning 
some,  that  they,  either  naturally  or  by 
education,  have  acquired  a  restraint  and 
stiffness  of  manners,  which  to  strangers 
assumes  the  appearance  of  pride  and  un- 
kindness.  This  is  certainly  unfortunate, 
since  it  often  produces  a  wrong  impres- 
sion of  their  real  feelings.  But  a  heart 
imbued  with  Christian  love,  will  dis- 
cover this,  and  will  labor  diligently  to 
overthrow  it.  It  will  train  itself,  so 
that,  if  it  does  not  wholly  overcome,  it 
will  so  modify  it,  that  a  short  acquaint- 
ance will  suffice  to  dissipate  the  first  im- 
pression, and  to  convince  all  its  acquain- 
tances that  beneath  those  restrained 
manners,  there  dwells  a  soul  warmed 
with  the  genuine  fire  of  the  Savior's  love. 

The  unrenewed  heart  prompts  a  cold 
reserve  towards  all,  Avho  do  not  suit  its 
tastes,  or  who  may  chance  to  offend  its 
pride.  Harsh  speeches,  unkind,  ungen- 
erous remarks,  are  the  loathsome  fruits 


98  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

of  this  unholy  root.  Either  forgetting,  or 
not  caring  to  know,  that  biting  words  are 
daggers  to  the  sensitive  mind,  it  con- 
stantly employs  them,  and  thus  with  un- 
sparing zeal,  inflicts  wounds  that  time 
cannot  always  heal.  Love  cannot  imi- 
tate this  example,  for  it  never  retaliates  ; 
it  is  always  kind.  It  can  utter  hard 
speeches  no  more  than  it  can  use  sharp 
swords.  Love  considers  the  feelings  of 
its  objects  ;  it  would  rather  be  wounded 
itself  than  wound  others. 

It  must  be  sorrowfully  confessed,  that 
this  proof  of  Christian  love  is  a  beauty 
rarely  loved  as  it  deserves.  Many  relig- 
ionists, worthy  in  some  respects,  are 
sadly  deficient  here.  They  speak  un- 
kindly to  other  Christians ;  they  use 
harsh,  ivords  to  their  children,  domestics 
and  acquaintances.  In  this  way,  many 
a  life  is  embittered,  which,  otherwise, 
might  be  happy ;  many  a  heart  left 
bleeding,  which  might  be  healed. 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.         99 

O,  that  Christians  would  think  of  these 
things !  O  that  they  would  sternly  re- 
solve never  to  let  a  harsh  word  drop 
from  their  tongues  !  Let  me  adjure  thee, 
Christian  reader,  in  the  words  of  a  female 
poet,  *  to 

"  Speak  not  harshly,  —  much  of  care 
Every  human  heart  must  bear  ; 
Enough  of  shadows  sadly  play, 
Aiound  the  very  sunniest  way  ; 
Enough  of  sorrows  darkly  lie, 
Veiled  within  the  merriest  eye." 
****** 

"  Think  not  that  he  doth  not  feel,  — 
That  his  soul  is  cased  in  steel : 
Though  no  passion  fires  his  eye, 
Though  he  hears  without  reply, — 
Or  a  cold  and  careless  smile, 
Lingers  on  the  lip  the  while. 
Many  a  bitter  pang  doth  pride 
Or  a  Christian  patience  hide  ; 
That  he  bears  unmurmuringly, 
Offers  no  excuse  for  thee. 


*  Miss  Fletcher. 


100  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


"  Speak  not  harshly,  —  there  may  yet 
Come  an  hour  of  wild  regret, 
When  with  deep  and  bitter  wailing, 
And  with  anguish  unavailing, 
Thou  beside  thy  dying  friend, 
May  for  pardon  lowly  bend  ; 
Do  no  act  that  thou  wilt  rue 
In  the  moment  of  adieu. 
Speak  no  word  thou  'It  wish  unsaid, 
When  thy  friend  is  with  the  dead." 

There  is  an  unscriptural  opinion 
among  multitudes  of  professing  Chris- 
tians, that  greatly  hinders  them  in  the 
practice  of  Christian  kindness.  They 
imagine  that,  if  they  do  not  maintain 
self-respect  by  manifesting  a  consider- 
able degree  of  spirit,  they  shall  be  des- 
pised and  trampled  upon  by  others.  This 
is  a  mistake.  Self-respect  is  not  main- 
tained by  exhibition  of  spirit,  or,  what  is 
nearer  the  truth,  of  bad  temper  :  the  best 
and  surest  method  is  to  avoid  mean 
actions,  which  is  the  only  sure  way  of 
promoting  self-respect  and   securing  the 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.      101 

esteem  of  others.  Ebullitions  of  temper 
may  serve  to  secure  us  from  the  ap- 
proaches of  men,  but  never  can  com- 
mand their  respect.  They  will  avoid,  but 
not  esteem  us.  Any  man  who  sets  out  to 
gain  the  regards  of  a  community  by  con- 
tumely and  haughtiness,  will  reap  nothing 
but  a  harvest  of  contempt.  But  let  him 
act  on  the  principles  of  Holy  Writ  and 
he  will  succeed;  for  depraved  as  men 
are,  they  cannot  help  admiring  the  love 
which  is  ^^ peaceable,  gentle,  easy  to  he 
entreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits, 
without  partiality  and  without  hypocrisy^ 
Though  they  themselves  will  not  adopt, 
they  will  praise  the  precept  which  says, 
^^  Love  as  brethren,  he  pitiful,  be  cour- 
teous, NOT  RENDERING  EVIL  FOR  EVIL, 
OR    RAILING  FOR    RAILING,    hut    COntroH- 

wise  blessing ; "  and  again,  that  other 
blessed  advice,  "  If  thine  enemy  be  hungry 
give  him  bread  to  eat,  and  if  he  be  thirsty 
give  him  water  to  drink ;  for  thou  shall 


102  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


heap  coals  of  fre  upon  his  head^  and  the 
Lord  shall  reward  thee"  These  are  the 
rules  for  the  action  of  the  Christian,  and 
if  their  practice  should  fail  of  securing 
him  respect,  he  is  no  less  bound  to  ob- 
serve them.  They  are  the  laws  of  his 
Master,  and  by  them  he  is  bound  to 
walk — and  far  better  is  the  smile  of  God 
than  the  praise  of  men. 

But,  as  before  observed,  the  kindness 
of  Christian  love  will  secure  both  the 
approbation  of  God  and  the  affections  of 
men.  There  is  a  power,  a  wonderful 
power  in  kindness  which  the  Christian 
church  has  never  yet  fully  tested.  Hu- 
man experience  is  one  great  volume 
of  facts,  all  showing  that  kindness  is 
stronger  than  a  lion,  sharper  than  a 
sword.  Kindness  will  subdue  where 
force  fails.  The  heart  that  will  resist 
violence  even  unto  death,  will  sink  in 
quiet  submission  at  the  feet  of  kindness. 

Among  many  facts  which  might  be 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN   liOVE.     103 


brought  to  illustrate  this  truth,  I  select 
the  following.  A  very  idle,  incorrigible 
boy  was  once  introduced  to  a  school, 
with  a  statement  from  the  parents  of  his 
bad  qualities.  Flogging,  severe  disci- 
pline, parental  authority,  had  all  failed  to 
move  him  ;  he  remained  a  source  of  sor- 
row to  his  friends  and  of  fear  to  the 
neighborhood. 

His  new  teacher  speedily  found  out 
the  truth  of  this  representation.  Idle, 
daring,  fearless  of  punishment,  the  boy 
was  a  source  of  extreme  trouble  to  his 
mind.  But  the  teacher  watched  him  and 
studied  his  character  carefully.  One  day 
he  saw  him  separate  two  boys  of  unequal 
size,  and  heard  him  tell  the  larger  one  to 
fight  with  one  of  his  own  age  if  he 
wanted  to  fight,  and  not  be  so  mean  as 
to  select  a  smaller  one  than  himself.  At 
another  time,  he  saw  him  enter  the  school 
with  his  pockets  filled  with  apples.  The 
other  boys  soon  clustered   around   him. 


104  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


and  many  voices  cried,  "  William,  give 
me  an  apple ! "  He  freely  distributed 
the  whole,  and  then  when  a  little  fellow 
approached  him  with  the  same  request, 
he  said,  as  he  searched  his  empty  pock- 
ets, "  I  wish  I  had  one  for  you,  but  I  have 
not." 

These  facts  convinced  the  teacher  that 
the  lad  had  a  generous  nature,  which,  if 
it  could  be  brought  into  action,  would 
yet  redeem  his  character.  He  resolved 
to  appeal  to  it  the  first  opportunity.  So, 
shortly  after,  when  William  violated  a 
rule  of  the  school  while  a  class  was  in 
the  act  of  recitation,  the  teacher  called 
him  to  his  side,  intending  at  first  to  apply 
the  rod.  But,  remembering  his  purpose, 
he  kept  him  standing  at  his  side  until  the 
class  retired.  He  then  took  the  offender 
to  his  desk  and  threw  his  left  arm  round 
the  boy's  neck.  This  made  him  look 
wonderingly,  as  if  he  would  have  said, 
"  What  is  to  come  now  ?  " 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.      105 


The  teacher  addressed  him  in  a  low 
tone:  "William,"  said  he,  "you  are  a 
strange  boy,  I  do  n't  know  what  to  make 
of  you.  You  will  be  a  bright  man  or  a 
very  bad  one,  and  I  fear  the  latter.  Yet, 
there  are  some  good  things  about  you, 
William."  He  then  told  him  that  he  had 
observed  him  separating  the  boys  and 
distributing  the  apples.  He  went  on  in 
this  strain  of  kind  rebuke  for  some  time, 
until  he  saw  the  tears  gathering  in  Wil- 
liam's eyes.  He  then  asked  him  if  he 
would  be  a  good  boy.  "  I  will  try,  sir," 
was  the  lad's  answer,  as  he  vainly  en- 
deavored to  suppress  his  tears.  With 
streaming  eyes  he  retired  to  his  seat, 
conquered  by  words  of  kindness. 

From  that  time  William  was  a  changed 
boy.  He  became  as  obedient  as  he  had 
been  rebellious  ;  he  grew  to  manhood,  a 
comfort  to  his  parents,  an  ornament  to 
society. 

Such  is  the  influence  of  kindness.    It 


106  CHRISTIAN     LOVE. 


is  irresistible.  Every  follower  of  Christ 
should  therefore  aim  to  possess  it.  He 
should  let  his  heart  grow  in  love,  and 
study  to  mould  his  speech  and  manners 
after  the  pattern  of  love  and  kindness 
furnished  in  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ. 

There  is  yet  another  offspring  of  Chris- 
tian love  claiming  our  attention,  which 
must  not  be  overlooked.  I  allude  to  the 
spirit  of  forgiveness,  which  it  uniformly 
produces,  in  proportion  to  its  dominion 
over  the  heart. 

I  have  already  said  that  love  does  not 
take  offence  at  imaginary  wrongs.  Look- 
ing always,  towards  all  with  an  unsus- 
picious eye,  thinking  no  evil,  it  cannot 
see  injuries,  as  thousands  do — where  they 
do  not  exist.  It  is  even  very  slow  to  per- 
ceive them  vv-hen  they  are  actually  in- 
flicted. But  when  this  existence  is  made 
certain  it  is  not  stirred  up  to  bitterness 
and  wrath:  it  utters  no  threats,  seeks  no 
revenge,   inflicts    no    retaliating    blow. 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN  LOVE.      107 

Like  its  lovely  exemplar,  it  quietly  and 
meekly  bears  all  injury,  from  the  unfaith- 
fulness of  a  Peter,  to  the  insults  of  a 
Roman  soldier. 

Peter,  while  a  mere  neophyte  in  the 
school  of  Jesus,  learned  enough  of  his 
teacher's  spirit  to  see  that  the  first  busi- 
ness of  a  Christian  disciple,  after  being 
injured  by  another,  is  to  forgive  him. 
Hence,  he  came  to  the  Savior  with  the 
question,  "  Lord,  how  oft  shall  my  brother 
sin  against  me.  and  I  forgive  him  ?  till 
seven  times  ?  Here  Peter  showed  his  dis- 
cernment of  the  operations  of  love  in  the 
matter  of  forgiveness,  but  his  untutored 
heart  had  not  yet  learned  the  absolute 
unweariedness  of  love.  What  can  be 
more  sublime  than  Christ's  memorable 
answer  ? — an  answer  that  deserves  to  be 
written  in  letters  of  gold :  "  I  say  not 

UNTO  THEE  UNTIL  SEVEN  TIMES,  BUT 
UNTIL  SEVENTY  TIMES  SEVEN." 

Now  what  is  the  ordinary  conduct  of 


]08  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 

religious  men,  when  injured  by  their 
brethren  ?  I  speak  not  here  of  those 
noble  souls — those  peers  in  the  church  of 
God,  who,  steeped  in  their  Master's  spirit, 
endure  Avrongs  after  his  heavenly  exam- 
ple— but  of  professing  Christians  gener- 
ally. How  do  they  suffer  injuries  ?  Let 
us  pencil  a  sketch  from  life. 

Parmenio  in  some  way  injures  Aspasio. 
I  will  suppose  the  injury  to  be  real  and 
positive :  some  actual  wrong,  as  slander 
or  fraud.  How  does  Aspasio  receive  the 
information  ?  Its  first  effect  is  to  excite 
a  powerful  storm  in  his  bosom.  His  mind 
is  agitated  and  presently  his  heart  gives 
birth  to  many  a  bitter  thought.  "  Parme- 
nio," it  says,  "is  a  hypocrite.  He  is 
among  the  worst  of  men.  He  shall  suffer 
for  this.  I  will  expose  him  publicly.  I 
will  wound  him  in  the  sorest  place.  I'll 
see  that  he  is  expelled  from  the  church ! " 
These  and  similar  thoughts  are  allowed 
to  gallop  uncurbed  through  his  soul.    Is 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN    LOVE.      109 

it  wonderful  if  they  trample  down  Chris- 
tian love,  with  every  other  grace  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  ?  This  is  the  instantaneous 
effect,  and  Aspasio  has  a  dim  conscious- 
ness that  his  peace  is  gone  and  the  face 
of  his  Savior  thickly  veiled. 

What  does  Aspasio  do  next  ?  He 
must  either  come  to  himself,  repent  of 
this  inward  storm  and  seek  the  restoration 
of  his  brother,  as  Christian  love  would 
prompt,  or  he  must  take  another  step  in 
the  wrong  path.  Sin  will  not  let  a  man 
be  still,  but  like  a  true  taskmaster  whips 
his  victim  onwards.  So  Aspasio  goes 
abroad  with  his  complaint.  He  makes 
hard  speeches  concerning  Parmenio.  He 
goes  to  all  but  the  offender  himself,  and 
if,  at  last,  he  brings  the  matter  before  the 
church,  it  is  in  such  a  manner,  as  makes 
Parmenio's  restoration  impossible. 

What  does  Aspasio  gain  by  all  this  ? 
Much,  very  much,  for  sin  pays  large 
wages.      But  these  wages  are  paid  in 


110  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

misery  and  death.  Aspasio  fails  of  res- 
toring the  wrong-doer  to  righteousness  ; 
he  loses  his  own  Christian  influence ;  he 
forfeits  the  favor  of  Christ  and  becomes 
either  a  hypocrite  or  a  backslider.     The 

LOSS  OF  TWO  SOULS  OFTEN  FOLLOWS  AN 
UNFORGIVING    SPIRIT    IN    A     PROFESSING 

Christian  !  for,  I  believe  in  many  such 
cases  both  parties  fall  into  perdition. 

Can  this  conduct  consist  with  Christian 
love  ?  Never !  Heaven  may  pass  away 
and  the  pillars  of  righteousness  that  up- 
hold God's  throne  dissolve,  as  soon. 
Love  delights  in  forgiveness  ;  it  glories 
in  pardoning  the  worst  offender. 

The  operation  of  Christian  love  when 
it  has  sustained  an  injury  is  graphically 
described  by  the  adorable  Savior.  He 
shews  it  on  the  first  knowledge  of  the 
injury,  flying,  in  the  ardor  of  its  kindly 
feeling,  to  gain  the  offender.     "  If  thy 

BROTHER  SHALL  TRESPASS  AGAINST 
THEE,    GO    AND      TELL     HIM    HIS     FAULT 


FRUITS  OF  CHRISTIAN  LOVE.  Ill 


BETWEEN  THEE  AND  HIM  ALONE  ;  IF  HE 
SHALL  HEAR  THEE  THOU  HAST  GAINED 
THY  BROTHER." 

Thou  hast  gained  thy  brother !  Here 
the  heart  of  love  is  revealed.  It  goes 
weeping  to  the  trespasser,  to  woo  him 
from  his  sin  by  kind  entreaty.  If  it 
should  fail  in  this  pious  attempt,  still  its 
work  is  not  finished.  Let  the  Master 
speak  again : 

"But  if   he  avill  not  hear  thee, 

THEN  take  with  THEE  ONE  OR  TWO 
MORE,  THAT  IN  THE  MOUTH  OF  TWO  OR 
THREE  WITNESSES  EVERY  WORD  MAY 
BE  ESTABLISHED." 

Blessed  arrangement,  to  snatch  a  wan- 
dering brother  from  the  hands  of  the 
arch  adversary  !  Could  any  man  resist 
the  importunity  of  such  pleading  love  ! 
Surely,  but  few  would  restrain  their  pen- 
itence !  Still,  some  might  do  so,  and  then 
love  takes  its  final  step. 

"  If   HE  SHALL  NEGLECT  TO  HEAR 


112  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 

THEM,  TELL  IT  UNTO  THE  CHURCH,  BUT 
IF  HE  NEGLECT  TO  HEAR  THE  CHURCH, 
LET  HIM  BE  UNTO  THEE  AS  A  HEATHEN 
MAN  AND  A  PUBLICAN." 

This  is  the  climax  of  love's  efforts.  It 
carries  the  offender  before  the  church, 
not  for  punishment,  but  that  he  may  hear 
the  church  and  be  prevailed  upon  to 
repent.  But  if  he  be  still  obstinate,  love 
does  nor  forsake  him.  Though  it  can  no 
longer  cleave  to  him  as  a  brother  in 
Christ,  it  will  follow  him  as  a  man,  with 
its  pity  and  regard,  its  kindness  and  sym- 
pathy. As  the  good  Samaritan  loved  the 
bruised  and  dying  Jew,  as  Christ  loves 
the  world  of  mankind,  so  will  the  true 
disciple  still  love  this  incorrigible  offen- 
der. 

In  this  process  for  the  recovery  of  a 
sinning  brother,  love  will  not  be  exacting. 
It  will  not  require  a  minute  confession, 
a  deep  and  crushing  humiliation.  Some 
religionists  are  satisfied  with  nothing  less 


FRUITS    OF    CHRISTIAN    LOVE.      113 


than  the  uttermost  farthing","  the  last  frag- 
ment of  the  pound  of  flesh !  This  is  not 
love's  spirit.  Only  let  a  single  tear 
moisten  the  eye,  a  word  of  acknowledg- 
ment pass  the  lip,  love  is  satisfied ;  it 
will  proceed  at  once  to  wipe  the  eye,  to 
kiss  the  cheek,  to  give  the  warm  em- 
brace. And  in  its  readiness  to  do  this,  it 
will  accomplish  more  for  the  real  humil- 
iation of  the  ofiender  than  in  any  otiier 
way.  Love  is  contagious ;  it  begets  love, 
and  hard  must  be  the  heart  that  can  re- 
sist its  influence. 


114  CHRISTIAN   liOVE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

HOW   TO    ATTAIN    CHRISTIAN  LOVE. 

I  HAVE  now  shown  the  nature  and 
effects  of  Christian  charity.  The  com- 
mandment has,  in  the  process  of  exam- 
ination, shown  itself  to  be  exceeding 
broad,  and  the  reader  has,  perhaps,  said 
to  his  misgiving  heart,  "  Who  is  suffi- 
cient for  these  things  ?  "  He  may  even 
have  felt  deeply  condemned,  and  guilty 
of  various  infractions  of  the  glorious  law 
of  love,  and,  in  self-despair,  exclaimed, 
Woe  is  me !  I  am  undone !  I  am  a  man 
of  unclean  lips. 

God  be  thanked,  my  dear  reader,  if 
this  result  has  been  gained.  I  do  not 
moan  to  thank  God  for  your  guilt,  but 


TO  ATTAIN  CHRISTIAN   LOVE        115 


for  your  conviction  of  guilt !  This  is  a 
subject  of  joy.  The  Prodigal  Son  would 
never  have  worn  the  best  robe,  nor  tasted 
the  feast  of  reconciliation,  had  he  not  Jirst 
come  to  himself,  and  cried,  "  I  will  arise 
and  go  to  my  father."  Be  thankful, 
therefore,  for  this  conviction  !  Beware 
how  you  shake  it  oif !  Do  not  heal  the 
wound  slightly ;  it  is  deadly  and  will 
break  out  again.  Bad  els  is  the  loath- 
some cancer,  eating  its  tardy  way  to  the 
seat  of  life,  and  mercilessly  destroying 
the  features  of  beauty,  yet  I  seriously 
assure  you,  that  you  had  better  have  a 
cancer  than  an  uncharitable  heart;  that 
can  eat  only  to  the  springs  of  mortality ; 
this  defaces  the  soul,  deforms  the  beauty 
of  the  spirit,  and  renders  you  loathsome 
in  the  sight  of  God. 

How  blessed  then,  that  gracious  inter- 
position of  God,  which  has  shown  you 
this  sin  I  Had  you  died  with  an  unloving 
heart,  you  had  certainly  gone  quick  to 


116  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


hell,  notwithstanding-  all  your  pretensions 
and  prayers  I  While  that  heart  has  ruled 
you,  you  have  been  hanging  over  the  pit 
of  destruction ;  deluded  by  a  dream  of 
heaven  !  Miserable  delusion !  Happy  con- 
viction that  dissipates  the  false  vision  and 
fills  you  with  trembling  anxiety  hence- 
forth to  keep  the  royal  law  of  love. 

How  may  we  fulfil  the  law  of  love  ? 
Is  it  possible  to  love  all  Christians  as 
Christ  loved  us  ?  To  avoid  all  violations  of 
the  new  commandment?  Who  doubts 
the  possibility  of  such  obedience  ?  Who 
can  doubt  it  without  charging  God  with 
being  a  hard  master  ?  Is  it  not  com- 
manded? Would  He  require  impossi- 
bilities ?  Enough ;  universal  love  is  com- 
manded, and  with  the  command,  there 
are — there  must  be — means  promised  and 
made  sure  to  the  believer,  by  which  he 
may  fulfil  it  to  the  uttermost. 

What  are  those  means  ? 

It  has  been  repeatedly  remarked  in  the 


TO    ATTAIN    CHRISTIAN    LOVE.      117 


preceding  pages,  that  true  Christian 
charity  is  the  fruit  or  offspring  of  love  for 
the  Lord  Jesus :  that  its  existence  and 
intensity  do  not  depend  on  aught  in  the 
Christian,  but  the  image  of  Christ ;  and 
that  it  is  exercised  on  Christ's  account,  or 
for  his  sake. 

This  being  allowed,  it  clearly  follows, 
that  to  keep  the  law  of  love,  we  must  be 
filled  with  the  love  of  Christ ;  and  that 
just  in  proportion  to  the  coldness  or  in- 
tensity of  our  affection  for  Jesus  Christ, 
will  be  our  love  for  the  brethren.  The 
love  of  Christ  is  the  fountain  which,  liv- 
ing in  the  heart,  sends  forth  abundant 
streams  of  universal  charity. 

Here,  then,  is  the  true  method  of  ful- 
filling the  law  of  love.  We  must  go  to 
the  Cross  of  Christ !  We  must  study  the 
attractions  of  Divine  love,  until  our  souls 
are  enraptured  and  captivated  by  their  glo- 
rious beauty.  We  must  bind  our  souls 
to  the  holy  spot,  until  they  are  drawn  by 


118  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 

its  allurement  to  consecrate  themselves 
as  living  sacrifices  on  the  altar,  Christ. 
Then,  he  will  fill  us  with  his  Spirit ;  our 
wills  will  be  lost  in  his ;  he  will  trans-- 
mute  our  natures  into  his  own  likeness ; 
and  love  for  the  brethren  will  follow  as 
naturally  as  branches  from  the  vine,  or 
as  a  tree  from  its  root.  Consecration  to 
Christ,  and  conformity  to  his  nature ; — 
in  a  word,  to  seek  to  have  Christ  in 
us  the  hope  of  glory — is  the  true  method 
of  obtaining  power  to  fulfil  the  law  of 
love. 

To  this  effect  is  the  word  of  Christ : 
"  Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone ;  but  for 
them  also  which  shall  believe  on  me 
through  their  word.  That  they  may  all 
be  one ;  as  thou  Father  art  in  me  and  I  in 
thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us, 
that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast 
sent  me.  And  the  glory  which  thou  gav- 
est  me,  I  have  given  them,  that  they  may 
be  one  even  as  we  are  one.    I  in  them 


TO    ATTAIN    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.      119 

and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be  made 
perfect  in  one." 

In  this  beautiful  fragment  from  the  sa- 
cerdotal prayer  of  Christ,  the  communi- 
cation of  Christ's  glory  or  image  to  his 
disciples  is  recognized  to  be  essential  to 
their  perfect  oneness,  or  union  in  love  for 
each  other.     "  The  glory  which  thou 

GAVEST  ME,    I  HAVE  GIVEN    THEM,  THAT 

THEY  MAY  BE  ONE  ;"  which  is  as  if  he 
had  said ;  I  have  communicated  to  my 
disciples  the  glorious  privilege  of  becom- 
ing Sons  of  God,  that  being  all  adopted 
children  of  the  same  Father,  they  may 
abide  in  peace,  love,  and  unity  :*  hence, 
if  the  Christian  would  grasp  the  full  priv- 
ileges of  his  sonship,  he  would  find  him- 
self the  possessor  of  Christian  love  as  a 
necessary  sequence. 

Go  then,  beloved  reader,  if  you  have 
learned  your  lack  of   Christian  charity, 


♦  Sea  Clarke's  Commentary,  John  17,  20.      -«» 


120  CHRISTIAxV    LOVE. 

and  bow  down  before  Christ's  mercy  seat 
— confess  with  tears  and  heart-agony 
your  unlikeness  to  him.  Be  willing  to 
part  with  all  your  idols,  sins,  and  follies. 
Be  a  whole  offering,  a  living  sacrifice  on 
a  living  altar.  Doubt  not  your  accept- 
ance, and  the  promise  will  be  fulfilled. 
"  A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and 
a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you."  That 
new  spirit  will  be  one  of  love  to  God  and 
to  all  mankind,  especially  to  the  house- 
hold of  faith. 

Particular  attention  to  this  duty  will 
still  be  found  necessary,  notwithstanding 
this  self-consecration.  There  is  so  much 
misapprehension  of  the  true  standard  of 
love  ;  there  are  so  many  departures  from 
its  spirit  and  practice,  in  persons  who 
possess  many  excellencies  of  character, 
that,  without  being  aware  of  the  steps  by 
which  he  descends,  a  Christian  may  find 
himself  again  beneath  the  altar,  and  His 
sacrifice  profaned.     He  must,   therefore. 


TO   ATTAIN    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.      121 

Study  the  character  of  Christ  with  espe- 
cial reference  to  this  duty.  Christ  is  his 
example.  In  him  are  meekness,  kind- 
ness, humility,  tenderness,  those  beautiful 
fruits  of  love,  and  by  prayerfully  behold- 
ing these  graces  and  perfections  of  cha- 
racter, the  disciple  will  himself  grow  in- 
to their  possession  ;  as  writes  the  Apostle 
Paul :  "  But  we  all  with  open  face,  be- 
holding AS  in  a  GLASS  the  glory  of  the 

Lord,  ARE  CHANGED  INTO  THE  SAME 
IMAGE  !" 

What  are  the  motives  to  Christian 
Love  ? 

The  Scriptures  offer  the  most  weighty 
considerations,  the  most  ponderous  truths, 
to  urge  the  disciple  to  climb  to  the  lofti- 
est heights  of  holy  love.  A  few  of  these 
shall  now  be  briefly  considered. 

1.  By  possessing  Christian  love  the 
disciple  greatly  increases  his  influence. 

Next  to  his  personal  salvation,  nothing 
is  so  important  to  a  Christian  as  his  in- 


122  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 


fluence  over  others.  His  chief  business 
with  men  is  to  save  them  from  sin  and 
death.  This  he  cannot  do  if  his  charac- 
ter be  such  as  prejudices  the  wicked 
against  him.  There  can  be  no  question 
as  to  the  prejudicial  influence  of  unchari- 
tableness.  Look  at  the  envious,  covetous, 
selfish,  cold-hearted  professor  of  religion ! 
Who  esteems  him  ?  What  worldly  man 
will  suffer  himself  to  be  persuaded  by 
him  ?  Do  not  the  wicked  say  to  him, 
"Physician,  heal  thyself!"  The  kind- 
hearted  moralist  has  more  influence  than 
the  uncharitable  professor.  While  the 
Christian,  whose  soul  is  moulded  by  the 
hand  of  holy  love,  possesses  an  unbound- 
ed influence.  Whose  exhortations  are 
listened  to  with  respect  ?  Whose  pray- 
ers command  the  heart  ?  Whose  kindly 
admonitions  in  private  are  affectionately 
received  ?  The  reader  must  know  that 
none  but  the  men  of  charity  ;  those  men 
of  large,  noble,  Christian  affection,  enjoy 


TO    ATTAIN   CHRISTIAN  LOVE.      123 

this  desirable  influence.  Our  blessed 
Savior  recognized  this  relation  between 
Christian  influence  and  Christian  love. 
He  prayed  his  Father  that  his  disciples 
^^  might  he  07ie,  that  the  world  may 
BELIEVE  ;"  hereby  declaring  that  the  in- 
crease of  brotherly  love,  and  the  conver- 
sion of  sinners,  must  go  hand  in  hand. 

Does  the  reader  desire  Christian  influ- 
ence ?     Let  him  obtain  Christian  love  ! 

2.  By  living  in  the  spirit  of  Christian 
love,  the  believer  greatly  increases  his 
own  enjoyment. 

Jesus  having  commanded  his  disciples 
to  love  one  another,  enforced  his  command 
by  the  followino-  precious  words  :  "  These 
things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  my 

JOY  MIGHT  REMAIN  IN  YOU,  AND  THAT 
YOUR  JOY  MIGHT  BE  FULL  !"       And  Johu, 

his  chosen  friend,  has  said:  "If  we  love 
one  another,  God  dwelleth  in  us,  and 

HIS  LOVE  IS  PERFECTED  IN  US." 

Can  any  thing   be  plainer  than  these 


124  CHRISTIAN    LOVE. 

divine  statements  ?  The  indwelling  God, 
the  fullness  of  joy,  are  the  glorious  results 
of  brotherly  love.  Blessed  fruits  !  Un- 
speakable delights  !  Who  for  the  sake 
of  gratifying  an  uncharitable  heart,  would 
expel  the  indwelling  God,  and  renounce 
the  joy  of  Christ  ?  That  the  unloving 
soul  is  deprived  of  these  great  blessings, 
is  evident  from  the  lives  of  uncharitable 
professors.  Look  at  them  !  They  are 
bitter,  complaining,  fretful,  fault-finding^ 
and  censorious.  Their  very  counte- 
nances declare  their  emptiness  of  spiri- 
tual joy.  While  those  who  are  noted  for 
their  Christian  affection,  always  wear  the 
calm  aspect  of  an  inward  joy.  Would 
the  reader  be  the  happy  possessor  of 
Christ's  joy — of  his  legacy  of  inward 
peace  ?  Let  him  seek  grace  to  keep  the 
new  commandment. 

3.  By  excelling  in  the  practice  of 
Christian  love,  the  child  of  God  will  en- 
joy a  great  reward  in  heaven. 


to  attain  christian  love.    125 

''  Ye  are  my  friends  if  ye  do  what- 
soever I  command  you," said  the  Savior 
in  reference  to  this  new  commandment. 
Thus  forcibly  teaching  that  the  path  to 
Christ's  friendship,  is  the  "  love  of  the 
brethren."  Why  did  John  lie  in  Christ's 
bosom  ?  Why  was  he  the  disciple  whom 
Jesus  loved?  Let  John's  epistles  an- 
swer the  question !  They  display  a  soul 
breathing  with  love,  and  thus  account  for 
the  Savior's  preference.  Why  did  Christ 
require  his  anointing,  by  the  hands  of 
the  weeping  Mary,  to  be  published  to  her 
praise  wherever  his  gospel  should  be 
preached  ?  Plainly  as  a  mark  of  his  es- 
pecial regard  for  the  love  with  which 
her  soul  burned.  If  then,  on  earth, 
Christ  preferred  those  who  loved  most, 
will  he  not  do  so  in  heaven  ?  If  the  af- 
fectionate and  charitable  John  lay  in  his 
bosom  when  he  was  in  the  flesh,  will  not 
he  and  his  kindred  spirits  be  preferred 
in  heaven  !     It  must  be  even  so.     The 


126  CHRISTIAN     LOVE. 


Stars  of  brightest  radiancy,  the  suns  of 
fullest  glory  in  the  firmament  above,  will 
be  the  Johns  and  Marys  of  earth.  They, 
by  the  loveliness  of  their  lives,  the  glow- 
ing charity  of  their  spirit,  having  most 
honored  Christ  and  his  gospel  in  this 
vale  of  tears,  shall  soar  the  highest  and 
shine  the  brightest  in  the  kingdom  of 
glory. 

4.  .Without  charity  no  man  can  be 
saved. 

The  Scriptures  teach  no  clearer  truth 
than  that  the  uncharitable  man  is  no 
Christian ;  it  is  utterly  useless  to  plead 
faith,  prayer,  zeal,  or  any  thing  else,  un- 
less chanty  can  be  produced.  The  ab- 
sence of  charity,  proves  all  other  preten- 
sions false  and  hypocritical,  and  leaves 
the  pretender  like ^ other  sinners,  without 
God  and  without  hope  in  the  world.  Let 
the  following  passages  of  Holy  Writ  be 
carefully  studied  in  proof  of  this  position. 

"  He   that  loveth  not,   knoweth 


TO    ATTAIN    CHRISTIAN   LOVE.     127 


NOT  God."  How  plain  yet  awful  is  this 
declaration.  The  following  is  equally- 
expressive.  "He  THAT  LOVETH  NOT 
HIS  BROTHER  ABIDETH  IN  DEATH."  Mark 

this  :  he  abideth  in  death ;  he  is  not  pos- 
sessed of  the  divine  life,  but  still  lies 
dead  in  sin.    Let  us  quote  once  more : 

"  If  a  MAN  SAY  I  LOVE  GoD  AND  HATETH 

(i.  e.  does  not  love)  his  brother,  he  is 
A  LIAR !  "  Awful  conclusion  !  Yet  it  is 
the  sentence  of  Him  who  is  the  Judge  of 
all  the  earth. 

It  is,  therefore,  an  unquestionable  truth, 
that,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  an  un- 
charitable man  or  woman  has  no  well- 
founded  hope  of  heaven.  He  is  deceived ! 
Destruction  yawns  where  he  expects  to 
find  the  gates  of  life ! 

Beloved  reader!  Are  you  guilty  of 
trampling  the  New  Commandment  be- 
neath your  feet  ?  Are  you  the  victim  of 
prejudice,  envy,  hate,  coldness,  or  any 
other  attribute  of  character  which  marks 


128  CHRISTIAN   LOVE. 


the  absence  of  genuine  love  ?  I  pray 
you  not  to  treat  the  matter  of  this  little 
book  lightly  !  Look  your  sin  in  the  face. 
Repent  of  it.  The  Advocate  above  will 
aid  you  by  his  precious  prayers.  You 
will  be  forgiven.  Then,  henceforth,  take 
the  law  of  love  for  a  rule.  Look  at  tlie 
church  and  world  through  that  law.  Treat 
them  according  to  its  instruction.  Spread 
its  sacred  influence.  Teach  men  to  bury 
their  animosities :  to  shun  divisions  and 
heart-burnings,  and  thus  aid  in  bringing 
on  the  glorious  era  when  the  universal 
Church  shall  possess  but  one  heart  and 
soul,  when,  indissolubly  united  together 
in  Christ,  it  shall  march  in  unbroken  pha- 
lanx to  the  conquest  of  a  revolted  world. 


